Concerns Raised over Alleged Killings by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan

Soldiers from the British special forces have voiced alarming concerns during a public inquiry. They are concerned about alleged killings of non-threatening Afghans during operations against suspected IEA insurgents. The concerns also include individuals under the age of 16.

This independent inquiry, ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), follows a BBC documentary claiming that members of the Special Air Service (SAS) killed 54 individuals under suspicious circumstances during the Afghanistan conflict over a decade ago.

The investigation focuses on a series of nighttime operations. These operations are known as deliberate detention operations. They were conducted by British forces between mid-2010 and mid-2013. On Wednesday, the inquiry released a summary of testimonies from seven UK special forces witnesses. The witnesses provided their evidence in secrecy for national security reasons.

One soldier, identified only as N1799, recounted raising concerns in 2011. He was concerned about a unit dubbed UKSF1 after hearing about its operations during a training course. Another officer, referred to as N2107, expressed disbelief in an email. He claimed that UKSF1 released detained suspects back into compounds. The suspects supposedly picked up weapons and attempted to attack the unit.

In his email, N2107 remarked, “Whilst murder and UKSF1 have oft been regular bedfellows, this is beginning to look bone,” indicating that the situation appeared very problematic. He later agreed with the inquiry’s lead lawyer and believed that UKSF1 had involved itself in extra-judicial killings by April 2011.

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UK Inquiry Probes Alleged SAS Killings

While none of the soldiers testified to witnessing such actions, previous inquiries by British military police investigated allegations of misconduct in Afghanistan. This included those against the SAS. According to the MoD, these inquiries did not result in enough evidence for prosecutions.

The inquiry seeks to determine whether credible information supports the alleged extra-judicial killings, whether investigators adequately addressed N1799’s concerns, and whether anyone covered up alleged unlawful killings. N1799 expressed feelings of disloyalty for speaking out and requested the removal of two MoD officials from the inquiry room due to safety concerns.

He stated, “I believe I did the right thing and I continue to, but it’s not easy. It does make me feel a bit sick.” His witness statement further detailed that during operations, they claimed that “all fighting-age males kill on target regardless of the threat they pose,” including those not armed.

N1799 also noted that soldiers executed “fighting-age males” inside compounds after restraining them, with one account mentioning that they placed a pillow over an individual’s head before shooting him. He clarified that this included individuals under 18, specifically those younger than 16.

As the inquiry progresses, other officers have reported hearing rumors. They have also shared concerns about UKSF1 operations. High casualty numbers and official accounts of killings raised doubts about the legitimacy of these operations.

This news is sourced from [Aaj News] and is for informational purposes only.