Around 80 Afghans may have fallen victim to summary killings perpetrated by three separate British SAS units between 2010 and 2013, according to a Guardian&nbsp;report.

Lawyers representing the bereaved families made these startling revelations at a public inquiry.

It is alleged that one SAS soldier personally ended the lives of 35 Afghans during a single six-month tour, following an alleged directive to eliminate "all fighting-age males" in targeted homes, regardless of the perceived threat they posed.

<h2>What do the lawyers claim?</h2>

According to the lawyers, numerous Afghans were fatally shot after being separated from their families by SAS soldiers. Even more concerning, in five incidents, the number of individuals killed exceeded the number of weapons recovered, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding these deaths.

These fresh claims have come to light through a document submitted by the law firm Leigh Day to a new public inquiry investigating allegations of war crimes committed by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan. The submission references concerns expressed by senior army officers at the time, including reports of a casual disregard for life. Despite these warnings, an internal review conducted in 2011 failed to bring about any changes in the patterns of killing.

The lawyers have documented 25 suspicious deaths between June 2011 and May 2013, including an incident where four or five Afghans lost their lives, despite the discovery of only one grenade. The intensity of the operation was so extreme that two Afghan children required urgent medical evacuation.

During the later stages of the UK's military presence in Helmand province, elite British SAS soldiers frequently conducted nighttime raids on family compounds in search of Taliban fighters. Despite previous estimates suggesting 54 Afghan victims attributed to a single SAS unit, the lawyers argue that the alleged offences involve a larger number of British troops and span a longer timeframe than initially suspected. The claims point to a disturbing pattern of unlawful extrajudicial killings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-says-taliban-is-helping-us-to-end-al-qaeda-610829">Taliban govt in Afghanistan is helping US to 'end' Al-Qaeda: President Joe Biden</a>

In 2014, the military police launched Operation Northmoor, investigating over 600 allegations of offences committed by British forces in Afghanistan, including allegations of civilian killings by the SAS. However, the operation was shut down in 2017 by government ministers and concluded in 2019, with the Ministry of Defence asserting no evidence of criminality. The lawyers argue that subsequent years saw a concerted cover-up involving senior officers, officials, and multiple inquiries. Troublingly, there are reports that special forces headquarters deleted data shortly before military police investigators arrived for an examination.

Also watch |&nbsp;Afghanistan's&nbsp;locust menace

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The full hearings for the public inquiry are scheduled to commence in the autumn. However, the Ministry of Defence has requested that certain pieces of evidence, particularly those concerning the alleged involvement of the SAS in Afghanistan, be heard in secret. Media organisations, including The Guardian, BBC, The Times, and The Daily Mail, are challenging this request, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of transparency.

The Ministry of Defence stated that it is for the inquiry, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine the scope and conduct of its investigations. The public inquiry aims to shed light on these grave allegations and provide justice and accountability for the victims and their families.

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Around 80 Afghans may have fallen victim to summary killings perpetrated by three separate British SAS units between 2010 and 2013, according to a Guardian report.

Around 80 Afghans may have fallen victim to summary killings perpetrated by three separate British SAS units between 2010 and 2013, according to a Guardian report. Lawyers representing the bereaved families made these startling revelations at a public inquiry. It is alleged that one SAS soldier personally ended the lives of 35 Afghans during a single six-month tour, following an alleged directive to eliminate "all fighting-age males" in targeted homes, regardless of the perceived threat they posed. What do the lawyers claim? According to the lawyers, numerous Afghans were fatally shot after being separated from their families by SAS soldiers. Even more concerning, in five incidents, the number of individuals killed exceeded the number of weapons recovered, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding these deaths. These fresh claims have come to light through a document submitted by the law firm Leigh Day to a new public inquiry investigating allegations of war crimes committed by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan. The submission references concerns expressed by senior army officers at the time, including reports of a casual disregard for life. Despite these warnings, an internal review conducted in 2011 failed to bring about any changes in the patterns of killing. The lawyers have documented 25 suspicious deaths between June 2011 and May 2013, including an incident where four or five Afghans lost their lives, despite the discovery of only one grenade. The intensity of the operation was so extreme that two Afghan children required urgent medical evacuation. During the later stages of the UK's military presence in Helmand province, elite British SAS soldiers frequently conducted nighttime raids on family compounds in search of Taliban fighters. Despite previous estimates suggesting 54 Afghan victims attributed to a single SAS unit, the lawyers argue that the alleged offences involve a larger number of British troops and span a longer timeframe than initially suspected. The claims point to a disturbing pattern of unlawful extrajudicial killings. Also read | Taliban govt in Afghanistan is helping US to 'end' Al-Qaeda: President Joe Biden In 2014, the military police launched Operation Northmoor, investigating over 600 allegations of offences committed by British forces in Afghanistan, including allegations of civilian killings by the SAS. However, the operation was shut down in 2017 by government ministers and concluded in 2019, with the Ministry of Defence asserting no evidence of criminality. The lawyers argue that subsequent years saw a concerted cover-up involving senior officers, officials, and multiple inquiries. Troublingly, there are reports that special forces headquarters deleted data shortly before military police investigators arrived for an examination. Also watch | Afghanistan's locust menace The full hearings for the public inquiry are scheduled to commence in the autumn. However, the Ministry of Defence has requested that certain pieces of evidence, particularly those concerning the alleged involvement of the SAS in Afghanistan, be heard in secret. Media organisations, including The Guardian, BBC, The Times, and The Daily Mail, are challenging this request, emphasising the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of transparency. The Ministry of Defence stated that it is for the inquiry, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine the scope and conduct of its investigations. The public inquiry aims to shed light on these grave allegations and provide justice and accountability for the victims and their families. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

SAS inquiry reveals possible summary killings of 80 Afghan civilians

The UK government and military covered up credible evidence of war crimes by British soldiers against civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to an investigation by the BBC and the Sunday Times.

Leaks from two government-ordered inquiries into the conduct of troops in the conflicts implicated troops in the killing of children and torture of civilians, the investigation found.

The allegations include murders by a soldier from the elite SAS unit, as well as deaths in custody, beatings, torture and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch infantry unit.

Military detectives who unearthed evidence of the alleged war crimes told the year-long investigation by the newspaper and the BBC's Panorama programme that seniors commanders hid it "for political reasons".

"The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had no intention of prosecuting any soldier of whatever rank he was unless it was absolutely necessary, and they couldn't wriggle their way out of it," an investigator told the BBC.

The MoD said the allegations were "untrue" and that the decisions of prosecutors and investigators were "independent" and involved "external oversight and legal advice".

The accusations emerged from two war crimes inquiries -- the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and Operation Northmoor, which dealt with Afghanistan -- which ended in 2017 without any prosecutions.

The government closed the probes after a solicitor, Phil Shiner, who had recorded hundreds of allegations, was struck off from practising law amid claims he had paid people in Iraq to find clients.

Amnesty International criticised the decision at the time and some former IHAT and Operation Northmoor investigators now allege Shiner's actions were used as an excuse to close down the inquiries as they found wrongdoing at high levels.

The Sunday Times reported military detectives discovered allegations of falsified documents that were "serious enough to merit prosecutions of senior officers".

It reported one of the SAS's most senior commanders was referred to prosecutors for attempting to pervert the course of justice before the inquiries were ended.

The newspaper said the revelations could result in a war crimes investigation at the International Criminal Court if Britain was deemed to have failed to hold its military to account.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC on Sunday that despite the lack of any prosecutions, it had "got the right balance" in ensuring "spurious claims" were not pursued.

The UK government and military covered up credible evidence of war crimes by British soldiers against civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to an investigation by the BBC and the Sunday Times.

The UK government and military covered up credible evidence of war crimes by British soldiers against civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to an investigation by the BBC and the Sunday Times. Leaks from two government-ordered inquiries into the conduct of troops in the conflicts implicated troops in the killing of children and torture of civilians, the investigation found. The allegations include murders by a soldier from the elite SAS unit, as well as deaths in custody, beatings, torture and sexual abuse of detainees by members of the Black Watch infantry unit. Military detectives who unearthed evidence of the alleged war crimes told the year-long investigation by the newspaper and the BBC's Panorama programme that seniors commanders hid it "for political reasons". "The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had no intention of prosecuting any soldier of whatever rank he was unless it was absolutely necessary, and they couldn't wriggle their way out of it," an investigator told the BBC. The MoD said the allegations were "untrue" and that the decisions of prosecutors and investigators were "independent" and involved "external oversight and legal advice". The accusations emerged from two war crimes inquiries -- the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) and Operation Northmoor, which dealt with Afghanistan -- which ended in 2017 without any prosecutions. The government closed the probes after a solicitor, Phil Shiner, who had recorded hundreds of allegations, was struck off from practising law amid claims he had paid people in Iraq to find clients. Amnesty International criticised the decision at the time and some former IHAT and Operation Northmoor investigators now allege Shiner's actions were used as an excuse to close down the inquiries as they found wrongdoing at high levels. The Sunday Times reported military detectives discovered allegations of falsified documents that were "serious enough to merit prosecutions of senior officers". It reported one of the SAS's most senior commanders was referred to prosecutors for attempting to pervert the course of justice before the inquiries were ended. The newspaper said the revelations could result in a war crimes investigation at the International Criminal Court if Britain was deemed to have failed to hold its military to account. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC on Sunday that despite the lack of any prosecutions, it had "got the right balance" in ensuring "spurious claims" were not pursued.

UK government and military covered up war crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq: Report

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SAS inquiry reveals possible summary killings of 80 Afghan civilians

UK government and military covered up war crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq: Report