Senior military figures have warned that hundreds of current and former SAS personnel could be exposed to serious security threats as investigations into alleged war crimes place the elite regiment under increasing scrutiny.
The Special Air Service Regimental Association (SASRA) has raised concerns that hostile governments, terrorist organisations and other groups could exploit proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice to identify soldiers and undermine Britain’s special forces.
In a letter to its members, the association warned that the legal proceedings could put both serving and retired personnel, as well as their families, at risk.
SAS Association Warns of Threats from Russia and China
SASRA said hostile state actors, including Russia and China, could use information emerging from the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan to weaken Britain’s special forces through misinformation and disinformation.
The association’s president, retired SAS commanding officer Brigadier Ed Butler, said the inquiry presented an opportunity for hostile organisations to exploit sensitive information about military personnel.
He warned that such groups operated beyond national borders and were not constrained by legal or moral considerations.
In the letter, Brigadier Butler said: ‘Without doubt hostile state actors will be taking a special interest in the Inquiry as it provides them with the perfect hybrid opportunity to weaken a key Special Forces opponent through misinformation, disinformation and distortion.’
He added that the activities of state-backed groups, terrorist organisations and other hostile actors could expose soldiers and their relatives to ‘real danger’.
Hundreds of SAS Personnel Under Investigation
Hundreds of serving and former SAS soldiers are being investigated over allegations of unlawful killings and other misconduct during operations in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.
The most serious allegations concern operations in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013, when members of the regiment were accused of carrying out scores of extrajudicial killings involving Taliban suspects who were already in British custody.
The allegations are being examined by the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan, led by Lord Justice Sir Charles Haddon-Cave.
Its findings are expected to prompt a criminal investigation by specialist military police officers.
Depending on the outcome, individual soldiers could face murder charges, while senior commanders could be investigated over alleged misconduct in public office and attempts to obstruct justice.
There is also the possibility that one of the SAS’s four sabre squadrons could be disbanded as a collective punishment.
Association Demands Greater Protection for Soldiers and Families
SASRA has called for independent scrutiny of security arrangements surrounding the inquiry and stronger measures to protect the identities of those involved.
The association is particularly concerned about the possibility of artificial intelligence being used alongside publicly available information to identify soldiers whose details have been withheld.
Brigadier Butler said the Ministry of Defence and the inquiry were not paying sufficient attention to the risks created by information being disclosed during the proceedings.
The association wants stronger anonymity protections and improved personal security arrangements for military personnel and their dependents in cases where their identities might be exposed.
It has also renewed concerns that prolonged investigations into historic military operations could damage recruitment and retention within the special forces.
Badenoch Calls on Prime Minister to End SAS Investigations
The intervention comes after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to stop what she described as a ‘witch hunt’ against SAS personnel.
Earlier this week, Badenoch warned that the investigations would become Labour’s legacy unless the Prime Minister brought what she called the campaign against the soldiers to an end.
Her comments followed reports that some elite troops were becoming increasingly reluctant to participate in sensitive operations because of fears they could face legal proceedings years after completing their missions.
Previous Syria Investigation Raised Similar Concerns
The SAS association’s letter also highlighted the treatment of five soldiers who were wrongly accused of murder following the shooting of an ISIS terrorist in Syria.
The incident, which took place in 2022, was previously reported by the Daily Mail in 2024.
The five personnel, including a soldier identified as ‘Jay Cal’, faced allegations that damaged their military careers before the accusations were established to be false.
The regiment’s commanding officer and other senior officers were also accused of covering up the incident.
They were subsequently cleared of wrongdoing.
Military police investigations into the shooting were conducted under the names Operation Tanglement 1 and Operation Tanglement 2.
They followed an intervention by General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who was then Director Special Forces and is now the First Sea Lord.
Former SAS Soldier’s Account Submitted to Afghanistan Inquiry
SASRA also referred to evidence previously uncovered by Daily Mail Defence Editor Mark Nicol concerning the alleged killings in Afghanistan.
In 2017, the Mail on Sunday published an interview with a soldier directly involved in the operations at the centre of the allegations.
His account was later included in Nicol’s book, Blades – the Untold Story of the SAS in Afghanistan, which was serialised by the newspaper last month.
The soldier’s first-hand testimony has been submitted to the Afghanistan inquiry, with his identity withheld.
In his account, he described how Taliban bombmakers were repeatedly released from British custody because of human rights legislation.
He also claimed that the SAS Rules of Engagement were unsuitable for the counterterrorism operations being conducted at the time.
Ministry of Defence Defends Security Measures
The Ministry of Defence said protecting the identities of military personnel involved in the inquiry remained a priority.
A spokesperson said strict security arrangements had been introduced, including closed hearings, coded identities, anonymous witness appearances and controls over the release of sensitive information.
The department also warned that anyone who violated the protections established for the inquiry could face legal action.
The Prince of Wales, who accepted an invitation last year to become patron of the SAS Regimental Association, is among the regiment’s prominent supporters.
