SAS Soldiers Cleared After Probe
PHOTO CAPTION: British soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, prepare for a helicopter mission in Afghanistan in April 2011. Five British SAS soldiers faced a nearly three-year murder investigation following a separate 2022 mission against ISIS in Syria. Prosecutors ultimately brought no charges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rashaun X. James)
Five members of Britain's elite Special Air Service were subjected to a nearly three-year murder investigation after killing two suspected ISIS operatives during a military mission in Syria, only to have prosecutors ultimately decline to bring charges.
The case, revealed in a new Sunday Times investigation, involved a July 2022 operation to capture a senior ISIS cell commander.
The five soldiers maintained that they opened fire because they believed their lives were in immediate danger. The two people killed were teenagers reportedly linked to ISIS, but investigators found no weapons on their bodies.
Although an initial military review supported the soldiers' account of self-defense, the incident eventually led to arrests, searches of their homes and a lengthy criminal investigation.
Now the SAS Regimental Association is warning that the treatment of the soldiers has damaged military morale and confidence in the chain of command.
A Deadly Mission in Syria
The July 2022 operation took place near Deir ez-Zor, Syria, as British special forces attempted to capture an ISIS commander.
According to The Sunday Times, the soldiers reported hearing incoming gunfire during the nighttime mission.
They subsequently encountered two individuals who, according to the soldiers, refused commands to surrender.
Believing they faced an immediate threat, members of the unit opened fire, killing both.
The two were reportedly teenagers, one 17 years old and the other approximately 14.
No firearms were recovered from their bodies, raising questions about whether the soldiers had used excessive force.
An initial internal SAS investigation supported the self-defense account, but then-director of special forces Gwyn Jenkins referred the matter for further investigation.
Arrested, Then Returned to Combat
The Royal Military Police opened a criminal investigation known as Operation Tanglement.
Five SAS soldiers were eventually arrested on suspicion of murder, with military police conducting searches and interviews connected to the investigation.
Despite the serious allegations, the soldiers were returned to operational duties.
According to The Sunday Times, they were back conducting dangerous missions against ISIS within 48 hours of questioning.
The investigation continued for nearly three years, leaving the soldiers facing the possibility of prosecution while performing combat assignments.
The soldiers reportedly described significant psychological pressure and uncertainty about the rules governing their use of force.
Prosecutors Declined to Bring Charges
The investigation concluded in May 2025 without criminal charges against the five soldiers.
However, they were reportedly informed that the investigation could be reopened if new evidence emerged.
No court determined that the soldiers committed murder, and none was convicted in connection with the incident.
The decision not to prosecute also does not constitute a judicial determination that every aspect of the operation complied with military rules.
All five soldiers have since left the armed forces, according to reporting on the investigation.
SAS Association Raises Concerns
Following publication of the investigation, the SAS Regimental Association criticized the prolonged legal uncertainty experienced by the soldiers.
The association warned that extended investigations can damage service members' mental health, careers, family lives and confidence in military leadership.
It also argued that the experience could discourage experienced personnel from remaining in special operations units.
The Ministry of Defence has maintained that allegations of serious wrongdoing must be investigated properly and that military personnel should receive fair treatment during such investigations.
The controversy highlights a difficult issue for military forces operating in combat zones: ensuring that potentially unlawful killings are investigated while also protecting the legal rights and welfare of troops required to make split-second decisions under dangerous conditions.
For the five former SAS soldiers, the criminal investigation ended without charges. Questions about the handling of their case and its impact on military personnel are now receiving renewed attention.
(Source: OAF Nation)
