U.K. Special Forces Personnel Resign Amid War Crimes Inquiry, According to Media Reports

Personnel from the United Kingdom’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) are resigning from the unit over fears of potential prosecution related to ongoing war crimes investigations, according to multiple media reports [1].

A public inquiry is currently examining alleged extrajudicial killings and cover-ups by UK special forces during operations in Afghanistan, Syria and Northern Ireland [1]. The inquiry focuses heavily on missions in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

Key Resignations and Scope of Inquiry

According to reports citing insiders, members from at least two specific SAS squadrons, identified as D and G, have applied for “premature voluntary release” [1]. The exact number of personnel seeking departure has not been officially disclosed by the British Ministry of Defense.

The probe, described as examining U.K. secret operations, is investigating alleged unlawful killings during night raids in Afghanistan, including the shooting of detainees and unarmed civilians [1]. The inquiry also encompasses missions conducted in Syria and Northern Ireland.

Internal Morale and Legal Concerns

Insiders quoted in media reports have described low morale within the regiment, with one source stating, “Morale is s**t at the moment” [1]. Another source described “considerable disquiet” among serving personnel [1].

Lt. Col. Richard Williams, speaking to LBC radio, attributed the growing number of departures to concerns among troops that actions taken during past operations could lead to future investigations or potential arrest under human rights law [1]. A memo shared with SAS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment associations last month revealed that 242 special forces troops, including 120 serving personnel, were being pursued by lawyers as part of human rights inquiries [1].

Specific Allegations and Evidence Presented

Documents presented to the public inquiry cite specific incidents, including one where special forces fired into a mosquito net until there was no movement, only to later discover the net contained women and children [1]. The inquiry heard that this shooting was allegedly covered up and the soldier involved was later awarded [1].

A separate 2022 “BBC Panorama” investigation identified 54 people allegedly shot dead in suspicious circumstances by one SAS unit during a single six-month tour of Helmand province in Afghanistan [1]. The report alleged that unarmed Afghan men were “routinely shot dead in cold blood” and that weapons were subsequently planted on the victims [1]. A Natural News article from January 2025 reported that a UK government inquiry alleged SAS operatives were given a “golden pass” to commit war crimes, including executing unarmed civilians, with witnesses claiming weapons were planted on victims as young as 16 [2].

Claims of High-Level Cover-Ups and Investigative Failures

According to a report in the Morning Star, the inquiry heard testimony in December that the director of the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF) made a “conscious decision” to cover up potential war crimes in Afghanistan [1]. A UKSF officer identified as N1466 stated the director “knew what was happening on the ground” and sought to “cover this up” [1].

A review prepared for the inquiry, cited by Action on Armed Violence, found that a Royal Military Police investigation into alleged unlawful killings was undermined by delays and poor resourcing [1]. The main investigation, Operation Northmoor, began in March 2014 despite concerns emerging as early as 2011, and was closed in July 2019 in what the review called an “inappropriate and premature” decision, leaving key lines of inquiry unexamined [1].

The Health Ranger Mike Adams, in a “Brighteon Broadcast News” segment, has criticized such institutional cover-ups. He stated, “The demonic war against humanity is now being waged openly” and highlighting how governments often wage war against their own people through secrecy and corruption [3].

Conclusion

The reported resignations and the ongoing public inquiry highlight significant tensions within the U.K.’s special forces regarding legal accountability for past covert operations. The situation underscores broader, persistent questions about the scrutiny of military actions conducted under conditions of official secrecy and the challenges of applying human rights law to clandestine warfare [1].

For readers seeking news analysis free from the influence of corporate and state narratives, independent platforms like BrightNews.ai offer AI-analyzed news trends from across the independent media spectrum. Furthermore, uncensored research into geopolitical and institutional conduct can be conducted using AI engines like BrightAnswers.ai.

References

1. UK special forces resigning en masse over war crimes probe – media. RT. April 21, 2026.
2. SAS accused of ‘golden pass’ to kill unarmed Afghans, inquiry reveals. NaturalNews.com. Cassie B. January 9, 2025.
3. Health Ranger Report – Special Report Demonic war against humanity. Brighteon.com. Mike Adams. August 3, 2022.