Inquiry Reveals Disturbing Actions of U.K. Special Forces in Afghanistan

An official inquiry into British Special Forces' conduct in Afghanistan has uncovered alarming testimonies regarding the use of extreme methods and a lethal approach towards combat, suggesting a serious culture of impunity.

Evidence from an ongoing inquiry has unveiled shocking allegations against British Special Forces, accusing them of a pattern of extrajudicial killings during operations in Afghanistan. Released documents detail instances where Troops employed brutal methods, with reports of soldiers executing unarmed individuals and a chilling directive which reportedly indicated that all males of fighting age were targeted, regardless of their immediate threat.

The inquiry stems from the UK's Ministry of Defense's decision in 2022 to investigate claims of war crimes involving British armed forces between 2010 and 2013, with a particular focus on elite troops. The overwhelming documentation submitted to the inquiry includes witness statements, email communications, and testimonies that reflect a troubling operational ethos within Special Forces, which seemingly prioritized body counts over ethical military practices.

A pivotal account given in 2011 described a soldier's statement asserting that specific operations operated under the assumption that “all fighting-age males are killed” at targets, pointing to a relentless doctrine of aggression that disregarded rules of engagement. One soldier poignantly noted that the lengthy conflict granted these elite units a "golden pass" that allowed them to conduct operations with a reported sense of invulnerability and misconduct.

While the inquiry has placed significant focus on these individual accounts, the anonymity of the witnesses and a heavy redaction of sensitive information have left many questions unanswered. Nonetheless, the gravity of the allegations—ranging from the outrageous to the operationally systematic—has instigated a deeper conversation in the U.K. regarding accountability and military ethics in conflict zones.