“British ex-commandos testify about killings in Afghanistan and Iraq"





"alleged war crimes”

Former British commandos have given evidence to the BBC's Panorama programme about alleged war crimes committed by their colleagues during missions in Iraq (2003-2011) and Afghanistan (2001-2021). They said they witnessed with their own eyes how their colleagues shot dead handcuffed prisoners and unarmed civilians while they slept. Even children were not spared, they said.

The BBC spoke to more than 30 witnesses who served in or were stationed with the SAS (army) or SBS (navy). Due to confidentiality, they spoke anonymously about what they say they saw.

Routine "I saw the quietest guys flip out, develop psychopathic tendencies. They were out of control, felt untouchable," says an SAS veteran who served in Afghanistan.

Killing prisoners became routine, he said. "They would strip-search them, handcuff them, and shoot them." Then the handcuffs were removed and a gun was placed next to the victim, making it look like he had been armed.

Another colleague explained that suspects who had already been released once had no chance if they were recaptured. "Then we went there with the intention of killing them."

An SBS veteran said that everyone in the controlled area was shot dead. On one mission, a medic was treating someone who was still breathing. "One of our guys went over there. There was a bang. He shot him in the head without a second thought. Completely unnecessary. This was murder."

Everyone knew it An SAS veteran witnessed an unarmed person being executed in Iraq who posed no threat. The incident was never investigated. According to him, all the higher-ranking commanders knew about it. Another witness confirms this. "Without it being said, there was permission for what happened."

When writing reports, legal advisors and officers would give tips to avoid raising suspicions among military police. For example, they would ask if the commandos remembered someone making a suspicious move. "Oh yes, I remember," they would say.

Cameron Afghan soldiers and politicians did become suspicious. The then president Karzai received complaints about the actions of British commandos. He repeatedly expressed his concerns to the then British Prime Minister David Cameron (2010-2016).

A spokesman for Cameron told the BBC that "as far as Cameron can remember" Karzai's questions were about NATO forces in general and that Karzai had not specifically asked about incidents involving British commandos.

The UK has had an ongoing investigation into SAS conduct in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013 since 2022. Cameron's spokesman said he would await the outcome of that investigation, but that any suggestion Cameron covered up allegations was "total nonsense".

The UK Ministry of Defence told the BBC it was "not appropriate" to comment on allegations that may arise in the ongoing investigation.





Questa mattina mi sono alzato
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
questa mattina mi sono alzato
e ho trovato l'invasor.


This morning I woke up
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
this morning I woke up
and I found the invader.

  
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