Former UK Special Forces Soldiers Reveal Alleged War Crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq

Former members of the United Kingdom’s special forces have come forward to describe alleged war crimes committed by British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq over a decade ago, with more than 30 witnesses speaking out to the BBC’s Panorama programme, as per Al Jazeera.

The witnesses, who served with or alongside special forces units, described illegal killings and executions of detainees, including children, during the invasions of the two countries.

Among the testimonies, one veteran recounted how soldiers handcuffed a young boy and shot him in Afghanistan, saying he was “clearly a child, not even close to fighting age.” The veteran stated that killings of detainees had “become routine,” with soldiers planting weapons on executed detainees to make them appear as combatants in photographs taken at the scene.

Former UK prime minister David Cameron, whose tenure from 2010 to 2013 is now under scrutiny by a judge-led public inquiry into special forces, was reportedly made aware of concerns about night raids and killings, raised by then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai. However, a spokesperson for Cameron denied any suggestion that he had covered up allegations of serious criminal wrongdoing.

The testimonies primarily focus on the UK’s special forces units, including the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Boat Service (SBS). One veteran from the SBS described the behavior of some soldiers as “barbaric” and “psychopathic,” noting that they felt untouchable by the law. Others detailed executions of unarmed individuals, including those who were wounded and posed no threat, in clear violations of international law.

The BBC also uncovered new video evidence that suggested squadrons competed with one another to rack up “kill counts.” One veteran recalled a colleague who became notorious for seeking to kill people on every operation. Other testimonies revealed that senior commanders were aware of the killings, but officers allegedly falsified post-operation reports to avoid scrutiny.