SAS Officers Investigated After Legitimate Killing of ISIS Terrorist in Syria

The Commanding Officer of the Special Air Service (SAS) was among senior officers and soldiers investigated by military police following the legitimate killing of an ISIS terrorist in Syria in 2022. The investigation, codenamed Operation Tanglement 2, led to the SAS Commanding Officer, a squadron commander, and the regiment's Chief of Staff being interviewed under caution and accused of covering up a 'murder'.

The incident involved a five-man SAS team that eliminated a terrorist who had appeared in propaganda videos vowing to attack non-believers. Following the operation, the SAS team's account of the shooting as accurate and proportionate was signed off by the commanders. However, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, then Director Special Forces and responsible for both SAS and SBS missions globally, intervened. His decision initiated a three-year criminal investigation into the SAS personnel involved.

The intervention by Sir Gwyn, now the First Sea Lord, triggered a furious reaction within the SAS headquarters in Hereford. Soldiers believed that Sir Gwyn's actions were influenced by increased media scrutiny of Special Forces operations at the time, including investigations by the BBC's Panorama into counter-terrorist operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This led to concerns that senior leadership was prioritizing public relations over supporting troops who acted appropriately in combat.

In March 2024, it was reported that five SAS soldiers faced murder charges over the death of the jihadist. The investigation questioned whether the soldiers had used excessive force, with investigators reportedly counting rounds fired and considering whether an attempt should have been made to arrest the target, despite the risk that the individual might have been a suicide bomber. The soldiers maintained their actions were justified given the potential threat.

The soldiers were arrested in Syria, flown back to the UK for interviews, had DNA samples taken, and were fingerprinted before returning to the warzone. In May 2025, they received notices of non-direction, indicating the closure of the cases against them. The SAS Commanding Officer and two other senior officers involved in signing off the report were also cleared of wrongdoing last year, though the investigation had already significantly impacted their careers and the morale of the regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams, a former SAS Commanding Officer, criticized the investigation as 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 a "performative" display of transparency and control in response to media pressure, undermining troop confidence in a "politicised chain of command."

The Ministry of Defence stated that its personnel are respected worldwide for their professionalism and dedication, and that "allegations of wrongdoing are considered through the appropriate independent investigative and legal processes." The spokesperson added, "Where allegations arise, it is right that they are properly assessed and investigated."

Details of Operation Tanglement 2 emerge as the SAS faces ongoing legal challenges, including a High Court inquiry into its operations against Taliban bombmaking networks and potential inquests into historical operations stemming from the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.