Elite SAS Veterans Face Prosecution for Following Orders

Decades after serving in Northern Ireland and other conflicts, special forces operatives are being "thrown to the wolves" for actions sanctioned by the government

Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) veterans are facing unprecedented legal challenges for operations conducted decades ago. The Telegraph reports that these soldiers, who risked their lives in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan, are now being investigated and potentially prosecuted for actions they were ordered to carry out by the government.

The situation has become so serious that the SAS Association has taken the extraordinary step of asking its traditionally secretive members to reveal their service backgrounds and lobby MPs. Veterans warn that these "witch hunts" are severely impacting recruitment and morale within the special forces.

A particularly contentious case involves SAS operatives who killed four IRA terrorists in 1992 - an action now being scrutinized for potential criminal charges, 30+ years after the event. Former SAS commander General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith warns that serving troops feel abandoned, while veterans argue for better legal protections similar to those enjoyed by special forces in allied nations.

Read the full article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/06/the-sas-veterans-being-hounded-for-doing-their-duty/