Trendpills
A public inquiry in the United Kingdom is scrutinizing extensive allegations that British special forces, including the elite Special Air Service (SAS), carried out dozens of extrajudicial killings of civilians and unarmed individuals in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013. The investigation is also examining evidence of a potential high-level cover-up within the military and government.
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan has unearthed damning internal communications and operational documents. Contemporaneous emails from senior UK Special Forces (UKSF) officers describe certain operations as the "latest massacre" and raised concerns about "indefensible ethical and legal behaviour." According to reports, post-operation paperwork appears to have been systematically fabricated to portray victims as threats, justifying their killing. These key documents revealing widespread concerns at the time are now central to the proceedings, suggesting a pattern of unlawful conduct rather than isolated incidents.
Further evidence suggests a deliberate effort to conceal these actions. The inquiry heard that senior military leaders, despite their awareness of the grave concerns, did not report them to the Royal Military Police as required by law. It was also revealed that a top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, advised against a public inquiry in 2020, warning it would be "expensive, unproductive, and extremely bad" for the military's reputation. This resistance to a formal probe by senior officials has intensified questions about institutional accountability.
Adding a political dimension, Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer gave evidence confirming he had long perceived an "odour" of illegality surrounding SAS conduct. In his testimony, Mercer told the inquiry he sought to disprove the allegations but was unable to find evidence to do so. His statements underscore how deeply the rumors of wrongdoing had penetrated the UK's defense establishment. As the inquiry continues to hear testimony, it aims to deliver a definitive account of the actions of British troops and the response of the chain of command.
