The commanding officer of the Special Air Service (SAS) was subjected to a military police investigation following the 2022 killing of an Islamic State (Isis) terrorist in Syria, according to newly disclosed information. The officer, who led the five-man SAS team responsible for the strike, was interviewed under caution over allegations of covering up what was described by investigators as the “murder” of the militant. The team’s operation eliminated the target, who had publicly threatened violence against Western personnel in propaganda footage.
After the incident, the then-commanding officer, along with two fellow SAS commanders, certified that the use of force was justified and proportionate. However, the operation later came under scrutiny when General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, then Director Special Forces overseeing both the SAS and the Special Boat Service (SBS), questioned the account. Sir Gwyn’s intervention prompted military police to launch an investigation into whether excessive force had been used during the engagement. The inquiry, known by the codename Operation Tanglement 2, marked a rare probe into the conduct of high-level Special Forces commanders.
The decision to investigate sparked significant discontent within the SAS, particularly at its headquarters in Hereford. Many personnel expressed the view that Sir Gwyn's actions were influenced by heightened media attention on special forces operations, including allegations of extrajudicial killings, war crimes, and limited external oversight. Some soldiers felt the investigation was driven more by a desire to manage public relations than by genuine operational concerns. At the time of the probe, Sir Gwyn was nearing the end of his tenure as Director Special Forces; he has since assumed the role of First Sea Lord, the Royal Navy’s senior-most officer.
The investigation unfolded amidst broader public scrutiny of UK Special Forces, including parallel media inquiries into counterterrorism operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, the SAS faces ongoing legal challenges in a four-year High Court inquiry related to its involvement in dismantling Taliban bomb-making networks.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate the reputation of the SAS has suffered in recent years, reportedly contributing to morale issues and resignations among personnel. The commanding officer under investigation, along with senior members of the regiment, was fully exonerated last year following the conclusion of Operation Tanglement 2.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams, a former SAS commanding officer, criticized the inquiry, describing it as “unnecessary and mishandled” and asserting it was driven by distant headquarters agendas rather than substantive operational concerns.
The Ministry of Defence affirmed its commitment to professional standards, stating that allegations of wrongdoing are examined through independent legal processes. It emphasized that service personnel are globally respected for their professionalism and sacrifice, and that any credible concerns are properly investigated.