Allegations of War Crimes: U.K. Special Forces Under Fire for Actions in Afghanistan

An official inquiry into the U.K. Special Forces' operations in Afghanistan has brought forth disturbing testimonies and evidence of extreme tactics and alleged war crimes, raising serious questions about accountability and military conduct.

British special forces in Afghanistan are facing serious allegations of war crimes, as reported by an ongoing inquiry aimed at investigating the conduct of British armed forces during the war between 2010 and 2013. Testimonies released recently depict an alarming culture within these elite units characterized by extreme measures and a pervasive sense of impunity among members.

The inquiry revealed statements from British soldiers alleging that operational protocols allowed for the indiscriminate killing of all “fighting-age males” encountered on missions, often regardless of whether they posed any actual threat. One particularly shocking instance cited by an officer described a scene where a suspected militant was covered with a pillow before being shot.

This examination began in earnest following the decision by the Ministry of Defense in 2022 to investigate the claims. By 2023, it had been confirmed that the claims pointed specifically to the actions of special forces troops. The inquiry's findings consist of hundreds of pages of evidence, including emails, letters, and testimonies from both senior personnel and rank-and-file soldiers.

Contributors to the inquiry have expressed concern over the ethos that pervaded British special forces, suggesting that the troops operated with a “golden pass,” effectively allowing them a free hand to engage in lethal encounters without accountability. One unnamed soldier described this climate as one that put body count above any lawful or ethical conduct during operations.

The vast majority of the evidence, however, remains heavily redacted, obscuring identities, specific units, and the locations of operations to protect sensitive information. The inquiry continues, shedding light on a critical period in military history and the moral complexities inherent in modern warfare.