Soldiers from the British special forces have voiced alarming concerns during a public inquiry regarding alleged murders of non-threatening Afghans during operations against suspected Taliban insurgents, including individuals under the age of 16.

This independent inquiry, ordered by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), follows a BBC documentary claiming that members of the Special Air Service (SAS) killed 54 individuals under suspicious circumstances during the Afghanistan conflict over a decade ago.

The investigation focuses on a series of nighttime operations, known as deliberate detention operations, conducted by British forces between mid-2010 and mid-2013. On Wednesday, the inquiry released a summary of testimonies from seven UK special forces witnesses, who provided their evidence in secrecy for national security reasons.

One soldier, identified only as N1799, recounted raising concerns in 2011 about a unit dubbed UKSF1 after hearing about its operations during a training course. Another officer, referred to as N2107, expressed disbelief in an email regarding reports of UKSF1 operations, suggesting that detained suspects were released back into compounds, where they supposedly picked up weapons and attempted to attack the unit.

In his email, N2107 remarked, “Whilst murder and UKSF1 have oft been regular bedfellows, this is beginning to look bone,” indicating that the situation appeared very problematic. He later agreed with the inquiry’s lead lawyer that by April 2011, he believed UKSF1 may have been involved in extra-judicial killings.

While none of the soldiers testified to witnessing such actions, previous inquiries by British military police into allegations of misconduct in Afghanistan, including those against the SAS, have not resulted in enough evidence for prosecutions, according to the MoD.

The inquiry aims to determine whether credible information exists regarding extra-judicial killings, whether prior investigations into N1799’s concerns were adequately conducted, and if any unlawful killings were covered up. N1799 expressed feelings of disloyalty for speaking out and requested the removal of two MoD officials from the inquiry room due to safety concerns.

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He stated, “I believe I did the right thing and I continue to, but it’s not easy. It does make me feel a bit sick.” His witness statement further detailed that during operations, it was claimed that “all fighting-age males are killed on target regardless of the threat they posed,” including those not armed.

N1799 also noted that there were indications of “fighting-age males” being executed inside compounds after being restrained, with one account mentioning a pillow being placed over an individual’s head before being shot. He clarified that this included individuals under 18, specifically those younger than 16.

As the inquiry progresses, other officers have also reported hearing rumors and sharing concerns about UKSF1 operations, where high casualty numbers and official accounts of killings raised doubts about their legitimacy.