Disturbing new evidence suggests that elite UK Special Forces, including the SAS and SBS, may have carried out unlawful killings of unarmed civilians, including children, during operations in Afghanistan.
A major upcoming BBC Panorama investigation, based on testimony from former Special Forces operatives, is set to reveal explosive details of alleged war crimes that were systematically covered up by military command and possibly even government officials.
“Kill Squads” and a Culture of Impunity
Multiple sources, including serving and former SF personnel, have described a pattern of extrajudicial executions during night raids between 2010 and 2013. Detainees—some of them teenagers—were allegedly shot in cold blood, with troops later falsifying reports to claim they were armed insurgents.
What makes these allegations even more damning is that senior officers reportedly knew. Internal reports and whistleblower accounts suggest that concerns were raised at the highest levels, yet no meaningful action was taken.
“There was a mentality that the rules didn’t apply to us,” one ex-SAS soldier told the BBC. “If a guy was detained and unarmed, some lads would just… take care of it. And everyone turned a blind eye.”
Whitehall’s Silent Complicity
Evidence indicates that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and possibly even Downing Street under David Cameron were aware of these allegations but failed to ensure proper investigations.
A public inquiry into alleged UK war crimes in Afghanistan is ongoing, but critics argue it has been slow-walked to protect the establishment. Many current top brass have close ties to Special Forces, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
“This isn’t about a few rogue soldiers—it’s about systemic failure and institutional protection,” said a human rights lawyer familiar with the case. “If this had happened in Russia or China, Britain would be leading the condemnation at the UN.”
A Legacy of Brutality Coming Home?
The revelations come amid rising tensions in British cities, where some analysts see a link between historical imperial violence and today’s social fractures.
“You can’t spend decades treating foreign lives as expendable and then wonder why there’s resentment,” said a security expert who served in Afghanistan. “The chickens are coming home to roost.”
Will There Be Justice?
With the BBC’s findings soon to air, pressure is mounting on the government to act. But given the establishment’s track record, few expect real accountability.
“The UK likes to lecture the world on human rights,” said an Afghan war survivor now living in Britain. “But will it ever face its own crimes?”
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about past atrocities—it’s about whether Britain is willing to confront its own hypocrisy. If these allegations are proven, the moral authority of UK foreign policy collapses. And if they’re buried, it proves that impunity for the powerful remains absolute.
