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The Independent Inquiry into allegations of British Special Forces war crimes in Afghanistan has cost £58 million since its inception, far exceeding initial estimates. Running for over three and a half years with no findings published yet, the inquiry aims to investigate alleged murders of Afghan civilians by the SAS between 2010 and 2013. The inquiry's expenses include salaries for staff and expert witnesses, as well as work from 74 Ministry of Defence personnel who are dedicating over half their time to the investigation.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
Claims extracted
20
claim-shaped sentences
Uncertain
10%
2 of 20 hedged
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject
Correction & hedging signals
58.6
corrections and hedging in what we collected;
not a measure of accuracy
Outlets on this story
unclustered
not grouped into a story yet
Narrative spread
1
articles carrying this framing
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
-
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was commissioned to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
left frames the inquiry as a necessary investigation into potential war crimes
-
The allegations include that during so-called night raids targeting the Taliban, the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children.
left describes serious accusations against the SAS without questioning their validity
-
In a statement in response to the delay in the findings, the inquiry said its work was 'greater and more complex than it originally envisaged'. It also said that delays by the Ministry of Defence in disclosing information had also affected the timetable.
left supports the inquiry's claims about complexity and external delays
-
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
left reiterates the purpose of the inquiry, emphasizing its importance
Leaning score -0.45 for article 15496 (high confidence, 4 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-17
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An inquiry into allegations that British Special Forces murdered unarmed Afghan civilians has cost £58m, new figures have revealed.
asserted
figures → see → m
The inquiry has been running for more than three and a half years and has yet to publish any findings, despite aiming to report 'at least on an interim basis' within 12 to 18 months.
asserted
inquiry → run → months
The Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan (IIRTA) was commissioned to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.
asserted
Inquiry → relate → 2010
The allegations include that during so-called night raids targeting the Taliban, the SAS murdered detainees and unarmed civilians, including children.
asserted
SAS → include → children
In a statement in response to the delay in the findings, the inquiry said its work was 'greater and more complex than it originally envisaged'.
It also said that delays by the Ministry of Defence in disclosing information had also affected the timetable.
asserted
delays → say → timetable
The Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan began hearing evidence in 2023 after being set up by the former defence secretary, Ben Wallace, in the wake of allegations first reported by BBC Panorama in 2022.
asserted
Inquiry → relate → 2022
Since then, scores of witnesses have provided evidence in closed and open sessions.
asserted
scores → provide → sessions
Pictured: An earlier SAS night raid in Iraq
Pictured: Afghan and Western Special Forces in Helmand Province Afghanistan fighting the Taliban
The inquiry has already heard from senior UK military personnel who believed that the SAS did carry out out extra judicial killings of Afghan civilians.
asserted
SAS → picture → civilians
It also heard concerns raised about secrecy in how the SAS operated and how previous investigations in the claims were closed early.
uncertain
investigations → hear → claims
Last year, it was reported that the elite troops have ignored requests to discuss SAS night raids over fears that evidence they provide could be used against them or their colleagues in any subsequent criminal investigation.
uncertain
they → report → investigation
Most SAS and SBS witnesses have given testimony behind closed doors due to restrictions around their identity and security classifications surrounding operations.
asserted
witnesses → give → operations
Up until the end of the 2024-5 financial year, the inquiry's costs were reported to be £14.68m.
asserted
costs → report → year
This includes salaries for the chair, Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, its secretariat, lawyers and expert witnesses.
asserted
This → include → chair
However, a Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC revealed that the MoD put the overall cost at £58million to March 2026.
asserted
MoD → submit → March
The costs included payments to the MoD along with those of the inquiry team, it said.
asserted
it → include → team
It added that 74 staff at the MoD were currently working more than 50 per cent of their time on the inquiry.
asserted
staff → add → inquiry
The inquiry said its spending was proportionate and overseen judicially.
asserted
spending → say → ?
The SAS Regimental Association (SASRA) said it remained committed to supporting the inquiry and its conclusion in a 'timely solution', but added that the 'prolonged nature' of the inquiry has caused 'significant and widening harm'.
asserted
nature → say → harm
It said that the inquiry poses 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'.
asserted
inquiry → say → defence
A spokesperson for the inquiry told the BBC: 'The chair remains committed to the welfare and safety of UK Special Forces personnel and witnesses who come forward to the inquiry.'
asserted
who → tell → inquiry
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