UK Special Forces Face Potential Prosecution for Alleged War Crimes in Syria

Nine soldiers are under investigation by the Service Prosecuting Authority for incidents involving alleged excessive force, with another case linked to Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed that nine UK special forces soldiers are under investigation for alleged war crimes in Syria, with a separate case involving an individual in Afghanistan.
The allegations include the killing of a suspected terrorist in Syria over two years ago, where senior officers claim excessive force was used instead of an arrest.
A Freedom of Information request by The Times led to the disclosure of two cases in Syria, one involving eight soldiers and the other involving a single servicemember.
The MoD initially withheld the information, citing concerns over military effectiveness, but reversed its decision following an internal review.
The investigations come as UK special forces face broader scrutiny, including a public inquiry into alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan during past operations.