A significant number of soldiers from Britain’s 22nd SAS (Special Air Service) have reportedly resigned, expressing deep dissatisfaction with ongoing investigations into war crimes.
The soldiers describe the legal proceedings as a “witch hunt” fueled by human rights lawyers. Officers from at least two squadrons, D and G, have applied for premature voluntary release.
The investigations mainly concern operations in Afghanistan and Syria, as well as older cases from Northern Ireland. The resignations include experienced warrant officers, who are considered the “backbone” of the unit.
Sources within the SAS describe morale as extremely low, while warning that the losses pose a threat to national security.
The British government and the Ministry of Defence are investigating and prosecuting members of the SAS, mainly over allegations of unlawful killings of civilians and prisoners during operations, particularly in Afghanistan.
At the centre of the investigation are allegations that SAS members executed unarmed men in night raids and then planted weapons on the bodies to justify their actions.
Under pressure from court rulings, victims’ families and media revelations, the Ministry of Defence is being forced to investigate the allegations to avoid a cover-up.
The British government, for its part, has been making it clear that it is seeking to prove that the SAS, although an elite unit, is not above the law, ensuring that the rules of engagement are respected.
Many soldiers fear they will face prosecution for decisions made under extreme conditions on the battlefield.
The experience of these officers makes them sought after in the private security sector, offering better pay and less legal risk.
Special judicial committees (such as the “Afghanistan Inquiry”) have been set up to examine the SAS’s actions, as previous internal investigations were deemed inadequate.
These prosecutions create friction between the British senior political and military leadership and the special forces, but are considered necessary for the legitimacy of the operations.
The Starmer government’s policy is again at the center of intense debate in Britain, as the British Prime Minister’s stance on many issues is controversial and fearful.
The British government and the Ministry of Defense usually maintain a stance of silence on issues concerning the Special Forces, but the scale of the resignations has raised concerns about the country’s operational capacity in a period of international instability.
