British special forces soldiers reportedly employed extreme tactics against militants in Afghanistan, including executing unarmed individuals and using methods such as covering a man's head with a pillow before shooting him, according to testimony released by an inquiry into the actions of British troops during the conflict.
Testimonies revealed that during operations, it was stated that “all fighting-age males are killed” regardless of their threat level, including those not armed. This information was confirmed by an officer in a conversation from March 2011.
The inquiry, initiated by Britain’s Ministry of Defense in 2022, aims to investigate allegations of war crimes committed by British armed forces in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, specifically involving special forces troops.
The evidence released includes hundreds of pages of emails, letters, and witness statements, depicting a troubling culture within an elite fighting force that prioritized body counts over other operational metrics.
One soldier described the troops as appearing “beyond reproach,” suggesting that this perception allowed them to act with impunity. The identities of witnesses were not disclosed, and many documents were heavily redacted to protect sensitive information.
Concerns were raised by junior officers regarding tactics employed during nighttime raids. In one instance, a soldier questioned whether SAS units were instructing Afghans to retrieve weapons, thus creating conditions for their execution. A senior officer acknowledged a “casual disregard for life” in the response.
The inquiry also highlighted issues with the counterinsurgency doctrine (COIN) used by NATO forces, noting that indiscriminate killings could undermine trust between foreign troops and Afghan civilians.
In another email exchange, a senior officer expressed concern that SAS units were reverting to outdated tactics, while another officer made a derogatory remark about Afghan fighters, which was perceived as reflecting a troubling mindset regarding their treatment.
The Ministry of Defense stated it would refrain from further comments until the inquiry's conclusion.
Allegations of war crimes by British troops are not new and have been previously reported, including accusations against American special operations forces for similar misconduct.
The issue gained political attention during a leadership contest within the Conservative Party, where one candidate claimed that British troops were killing rather than capturing terrorists, a statement that drew criticism from former soldiers.
Concerns about the conduct of SAS troops were reportedly raised by members of the SBS, the Royal Navy's special forces unit, highlighting a rivalry between the two groups.
Witnesses expressed frustration over a culture of covering up misconduct, including falsifying operational reports. One soldier recounted an instance where it was suggested that photos would be staged to misrepresent the circumstances of a death.
Some officers warned that British forces could face similar scrutiny as American troops, referencing the 2010 WikiLeaks incident that exposed military logs from the Afghanistan war.
Overall, the inquiry continues to investigate the serious allegations surrounding the actions of British special forces in Afghanistan.