The Ministry of Defence figures show that an inquiry into alleged war crimes by British Special Forces in Afghanistan has cost UK taxpayers £58 million. Launched in 2023 to investigate murders of unarmed civilians allegedly committed by the SAS between 2010 and 2013, the inquiry has faced delays and is yet to publish findings despite initial promises to report within 12-18 months. The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) faces criticism for its lengthy duration and high costs, with some questioning the impact on military morale and operational effectiveness.
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Story summary
The Independent Inquiry into British Special Forces' alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, launched in 2023, has cost £58m so far. The inquiry, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, was initially expected to report within 12-18 months, but it has now been running for over three and a half years without releasing any findings. Delays have been attributed to the complexity of the investigation and the MoD's slow release of information. The inquiry investigates allegations that soldiers from the Special Air Service murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children, during night raids between 2010 and 2013. These claims were first brought to light by BBC Panorama in 2022.
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- Published
An inquiry into allegations British Special Forces murdered unarmed Afghan civilians has cost UK taxpayers £58m, figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) show.
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figures → publish → Defence
When the inquiry was launched in 2023, its chair Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said it would aim to report, "at least on an interim basis", within 12-18 months.
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it → launch → months
However, the inquiry has now been running for more than three and a half years, and has yet to publish any findings.
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inquiry → run → findings
In a statement, the inquiry said its work was "greater and more complex than it originally envisaged".
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it → say → statement
It added that delays by the MoD in disclosing information had also affected the timetable.
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delays → add → timetable
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was established to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service between 2010 and 2013, during so called night raids targeting the Taliban.
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Inquiry → relate → Taliban
These include allegations the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children, during operations.
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SAS → include → operations
It was set up by the former defence secretary, Ben Wallace, in the wake of allegations first reported by BBC Panorama, in 2022.
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It → set → 2022
While much of the inquiry's work has been carried out in closed sessions to protect the identities of serving personnel, it has published some evidence on its website.
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it → carry → website
It has already heard evidence from senior UK military personnel who have said they believed the SAS carried out extra judicial killings of Afghan civilians.
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SAS → hear → civilians
It has also heard concerns about the secrecy in which the SAS operated and that previous investigations into the allegations were ended prematurely.
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investigations → hear → allegations
Those included the salary of the chair, Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, its secretariat, lawyers and expert witnesses.
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Those → include → chair
The inquiry said its expenditure was proportionate and overseen judicially.
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expenditure → say → ?
However, the Ministry of Defence has given a much higher figure.
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Ministry → give → figure
Following a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC, the MoD put the overall cost at £58m to March 2026.
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MoD → follow → March
The figure included the costs to the MoD as well as those of the inquiry team, it said.
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it → include → team
The MoD said that 74 of its staff were currently working more than 50% of their time on the inquiry.
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74 → say → inquiry
The SAS Regimental Association (SASRA), which represents more than 5,000 SAS veterans and serving personnel, said it remained committed to supporting the inquiry and helping achieve a "timely solution".
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it → represent → solution
But in a statement, it added: "The prolonged nature of the process is itself causing significant and widening harm."
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nature → add → harm
It said the inquiry posed a "significant challenge, not only to the regiment's reputation and the wellbeing and morale of its members, but in the association's view, to the operational effectiveness of a key element of the nation's defence".
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inquiry → say → defence
It said the cumulative effect of decades of legal scrutiny arising from operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria was placing a significant burden on individuals, families and the association itself.
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effect → say → individuals
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry, which found the killing of 13 civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland by British soldiers was "unjustified", took 12 years to complete and cost more than £190m.
In response, the inquiry said it remained committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel, and a timely conclusion to the inquiry was in everyone's interest.
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conclusion → find → interest
"The chair remains committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel and witnesses who come forward to the inquiry."
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who → remain → inquiry
The Aporia
