SAS Commanders Investigated Over Legitimate Killing of ISIS Terrorist in Syria

The Commanding Officer of the Special Air Service (SAS) and other senior officers were subjected to a military police investigation following the lawful killing of an ISIS terrorist in Syria in 2022. The probe, codenamed Operation Tanglement 2, led to the officers being interviewed under caution and accused of covering up a murder, despite acting appropriately.

This investigation, which lasted three years, involved the Royal Military Police's Special Investigation Branch interviewing the SAS Commanding Officer, a squadron commander, and the regiment's Chief of Staff. The SAS soldiers who carried out the operation were also investigated.

The intervention that triggered the investigation came from General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, then Director Special Forces. His decision reportedly came amidst increased media scrutiny of Special Forces operations, including a BBC Panorama investigation into counter-terrorist operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sir Gwyn is now the First Sea Lord, the Royal Navy's most senior officer.

The SAS soldiers involved stated their actions were proportionate, arguing the target was a suspected suicide bomber who posed an immediate threat. They claimed they should not have attempted to arrest the commander in the dead of night on the battlefield. The soldiers were arrested in Syria, brought back to the UK for interviews, fingerprinting, and DNA sampling, before returning to the warzone.

Senior sources indicated that the challenges to the SAS's reputation, coupled with investigations like Operation Tanglement 2, have led some soldiers to quit the unit and question their involvement in operations crucial for national security. The Sword of Damocles hanging over the investigated officers was only lifted last year when they and the soldiers were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Former SAS Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams criticized the investigation, calling it an "unnecessary and mishandled military police investigation initiated not because of serious concerns, but merely as a self-serving public relations exercise by London-based and distant headquarters staff." He suggested the intervention was designed to demonstrate a performative level of transparency to Whitehall, undermining SAS confidence in an increasingly politicized chain of command.

Details of Operation Tanglement 2 have emerged as the SAS faces other legal challenges. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, recently passed by the House of Commons, could lead to inquests into SAS operations dating back to the 1980s. Additionally, a £70 million High Court inquiry is ongoing into the SAS's efforts to dismantle Taliban bombmaking networks.

In March 2024, it was revealed that five SAS soldiers were facing murder charges related to the incident. However, in June 2025, these charges were dropped, and the soldiers received notices of non-direction, confirming the closure of the cases.

An MOD spokesperson stated, "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."