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Five members of the UK’s Special Air Service (SAS) are being investigated for possible war crimes related to the death of a suspected militant in Syria approximately two years ago.
The soldiers, who are still on active duty, are being investigated by the Defence Serious Crimes Unit. Although no charges have been filed yet, allegations suggest that the elite soldiers may have used excessive force instead of arresting the suspect, who was believed to be planning a suicide attack.
According to reports from several UK media outlests, the soldiers encountered the suspect during a deployment in Syria. While a suicide vest was found nearby, the suspect was not wearing it at the time of the incident.
Following an inquiry by the Defence Serious Crimes Unit, military officials have reportedly recommended murder charges against the five soldiers to the Service Prosecuting Authority.
In response to the allegations, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson underlined the commitment to upholding high standards among personnel and pledged thorough investigations into any accusations of misconduct.
British special forces have been active in Syria for the past decade, primarily engaged in counterterrorism efforts against groups like the Islamic State.
This investigation coincides with a broader inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by British armed forces in Afghanistan. The inquiry, prompted by reports from the BBC and The Times, alleges that rogue SAS units carried out extrajudicial killings during night raids aimed at capturing Taliban fighters.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEvidence submitted to the inquiry suggests a significant number of civilian casualties, with claims that as many as 80 individuals were killed under suspicious circumstances by certain SAS squadrons between 2010 and 2013.
Media outlets, including Sky News, have challenged restrictive orders from the Ministry of Defence and Royal Military Police, accusing them of neglecting to investigate the allegations thoroughly.