An SAS commander has been placed under criminal investigation over an Islamic State manhunt.
Five soldiers in the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, or 22 SAS, were accused of murder during a mission in Syria and referred to military prosecutors.
The officer, whose name was classified under special forces policy, was investigated alongside two other officers over allegations about how they handled evidence.
SAS forces killed two teenagers linked to the Islamic State in a nighttime raid to capture a senior militant.
Military police decided to investigate the five soldiers on suspicion of murder, and the officers on what was believed to be suspicion of perverting the course of justice, which would have carried a maximum penalty of a life sentence, according to The Times.
Investigators claimed the five men used “disproportionate force” because the teenagers were “unarmed at the time of their deaths”.
In May, the Service Prosecuting Authority, the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service, decided not to seek charges against any of the men.
All eight men have since left the military.
Wes Streeting wrote a letter reassuring the special forces that his trust in them remained “firm” on October 13.
According to a letter seen by the newspaper, he said: “Where allegations of wrongdoing occur, they must be properly examined, but that should never diminish our gratitude for the heroism, professionalism and integrity of those who served, and have served with distinction.”
The investigation lasted almost three years from July 2022 to May 2025 and was codenamed Operation Tanglement.
Previous reporting of the arrests detailed how the five elite British troops felt they were treated like a “member of a criminal organisation”.
LATEST ARMY NEWS:
- Bring back national service in wake of new Russia threats, ex-Royal Marine Labour MP says
- More than a fifth of veterans feel ‘disconnected’ at home as ‘UK’s Superman’ reveals his solution
- SAS veteran calls for legal protections as troops sent to hunt down Isis face murder probe
But revelations that the unit’s most senior member was also placed under suspicion suggest the investigation into Britain’s elite forces was broader than previously believed.
It remains unclear what the commander and both junior officers were accused of.
One source suggested it may have involved a request for evidence, including drone footage or other evidence captured by the US military.
Officers may have been uncomfortable handing over confidential information from an ally and may have told military police to direct their request to the Pentagon, the source added.
Royal Military Police seemed to have concluded the officers were intentionally frustrating the investigation.
A spokesman from the Ministry of Defence told The Times: “Our personnel are respected worldwide for their professionalism and dedication and they make extraordinary sacrifices in defence of the nation.
“Allegations of wrongdoing are considered through the appropriate independent investigative and legal processes.
“Where allegations arise, it is right that they are properly assessed and investigated.”
Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter
