https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230524/uk-special-forces-secretly-operated-in-19-countries-over-12-years-study-reveals-1059442385.html
UK Special Forces Secretly Operated in 19 Countries Over 12 Years, Study Reveals
UK Special Forces Secretly Operated in 19 Countries Over 12 Years, Study Reveals
Sputnik Africa
UK's Special Forces have been involved in secret operations in at least 19 countries across the globe in the past decade, including Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Russia, and Ukraine, a new study has revealed.
2023-05-24T12:18+0200
2023-05-24T12:18+0200
2023-05-24T12:18+0200
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The UK Special Air Service (SAS) and other British special forces have been involved in off-the-books operations in at least 19 countries across the globe over the past decade, including Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Russia, and Ukraine, a new study has revealed. The elite military forces operate secretly, without publicly commenting on their activities. However, a London-based research group, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), managed to detect their presence in various nations based on media leaks, and compiled a list of their activities since 2011. The report's evidence includes such sources as national and international newspapers, wire services and broadcasters with online news. According to the analysis, members of the SAS, SBS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment have been repeatedly deployed by the prime minister and the Ministry of Defence to carry out high-risk missions, mostly where the UK is not a party to a conflict. In particular, the research group indicated, members of the special forces participated in hostage rescues. In 2012, a group of SBS soldiers failed to rescue a Brit and an Italian reportedly held by a terrorist group in Nigeria. Moreover, it was noted that in 2014, the forces joined international efforts aimed at rescuing hundreds of schoolgirls abducted by militants in the West African nation. The research underscored that following the murder of 38 people, out of whom 30 were British tourists, by a terrorist at a beach hotel in Tunisia in 2015, then Prime Minister David Cameron gave a "carte blanche" for the SAS and SBS to kill and capture Daesh* leaders, in Syria, Iraq and North Africa. The analysis revealed that the special forces have been active especially in Syria, citing media reports, which indicated that they entered the country in 2012 to assist rebel groups in the fight against President Bashar al-Assad. Furthermore, it was mentioned that "UKSF and MI6 [Secret Intelligence Service] were on the ground actively hunting for Syrian missiles" in advance of a proposed military campaign rejected by MPs. The report stated that the deployments took place despite a lack of oversight. Even though MPs have to vote to go to war, special forces can be deployed without parliament's approval. The authors highlighted that it is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability of their operations.The authors explained that their work is intended to "raise questions over the degree of transparency and democratic consent these shadowy units operate under." They called for a public inquiry into alleged misconducts of special forces that is crucial for justice and prevention, as "controversial incidents highlight urgency."AOAV stated that it supports ongoing efforts to establish a public inquiry into alleged misconduct by the UK's Special Forces. In March, an inquiry started into allegations that SAS members were involved in 54 deaths of Afghan civilians under suspicious circumstances in Helmand province in 2010 and 2011. The victims were reportedly shot dead after being accused of producing weapons.Even though British combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014, the research highlighted that special forces stayed behind and continued to fight the Taliban* and Daesh insurgents. As for the most recent operations, the UK Special Forces participated in the rescue of British diplomats and their families from Khartoum in April this year following the outbreak of hostilities in Sudan, evacuating them to an airfield north of the capital city.The report, citing leaked US military documents, also suggested that UK deployed 50 special forces personnel, including the SAS, to Ukraine. However, the purpose of their deployment wasn't revealed. The only mention of the forces' deployment in Russia dates back to 2014, when a media outlet reported that SAS soldiers were "on hand to protect" British athletes during the winter Olympics in Sochi.According to the analysis, other countries where there have been active operations of the UK's Special Forces include: Algeria, Estonia, France, Iran/Oman (Strait of Hormuz), Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Cyprus, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, and Yemen.* A terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states / under UN sanctions for terrorism
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uk's special forces, united kingdom, nigeria, sudan, syria, russia, covert operations, military
UK Special Forces Secretly Operated in 19 Countries Over 12 Years, Study Reveals
The United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a military organization comprising several units, including the Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service (SBS), which conduct high-risk operations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The latter, along with the UK government, follow a policy of not commenting on any operations.
The UK Special Air Service (SAS) and other British special forces have been involved in off-the-books operations in at least 19 countries across the globe over the past decade, including Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Russia, and Ukraine, a new study has revealed.
The elite military forces operate secretly, without publicly commenting on their activities. However, a London-based research group, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), managed to detect their presence in various nations based on media leaks, and
compiled a list of their activities since 2011. The report's evidence includes such sources as national and international newspapers, wire services and broadcasters with online news.
According to the analysis, members of the SAS, SBS and Special Reconnaissance Regiment have been repeatedly deployed by the prime minister and the Ministry of Defence to carry out high-risk missions, mostly where the UK is not a party to a conflict.
In particular, the research group indicated, members of the special forces participated in hostage rescues. In 2012, a group of SBS soldiers failed to rescue a Brit and an Italian reportedly held by a
terrorist group in Nigeria. Moreover, it was noted that in 2014, the forces joined international efforts aimed at rescuing hundreds of schoolgirls abducted by militants in the West African nation.
The research underscored that following the murder of 38 people, out of whom 30 were British tourists, by a terrorist at a beach hotel in Tunisia in 2015, then Prime Minister David Cameron gave a "carte blanche" for the SAS and SBS to kill and capture
Daesh* leaders, in Syria, Iraq and North Africa.
The analysis revealed that the special forces have been active especially
in Syria, citing media reports, which indicated that they entered the country in 2012 to assist rebel groups in the fight against President Bashar al-Assad. Furthermore, it was mentioned that "UKSF and MI6 [Secret Intelligence Service] were on the ground actively hunting for Syrian missiles" in advance of a proposed military campaign rejected by MPs.
The report stated that the deployments took place despite a lack of oversight. Even though MPs have to vote to go to war, special forces can be deployed without parliament's approval. The authors highlighted that it is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability of their operations.
"The extensive deployment of Britain’s Special Forces in numerous countries over the past decade raises serious concerns about transparency and democratic oversight," said Iain Overton, the executive director of AOAV, adding: "The lack of parliamentary approval and retrospective reviews for these missions is deeply troubling."
The authors explained that their work is intended to "raise questions over the degree of transparency and democratic consent these shadowy units operate under." They called for a public inquiry into alleged misconducts of special forces that is crucial for justice and prevention, as "controversial incidents highlight urgency."
"Let's ensure human rights protection and address Special Forces operations," Overton stressed.
AOAV stated that it supports ongoing efforts to establish a public inquiry into alleged misconduct by the UK's Special Forces. In March, an inquiry started into allegations that SAS members were involved in 54 deaths of Afghan civilians under suspicious circumstances in Helmand province in 2010 and 2011. The victims were reportedly shot dead after being accused of producing weapons.
Even though British combat troops left
Afghanistan in 2014, the research highlighted that special forces stayed behind and continued to fight the Taliban* and Daesh insurgents.
As for the most recent operations, the UK Special Forces participated in the rescue of British diplomats and their families from Khartoum in April this year following the
outbreak of hostilities in Sudan, evacuating them to an airfield north of the capital city.
The report, citing leaked US military documents, also suggested that UK deployed 50
special forces personnel, including the SAS, to Ukraine. However, the purpose of their deployment wasn't revealed.
The only mention of the forces' deployment in Russia dates back to 2014, when a media outlet reported that SAS soldiers were "on hand to protect" British athletes during the winter Olympics in Sochi.
According to the analysis, other countries where there have been active operations of the UK's Special Forces include: Algeria, Estonia, France, Iran/Oman (Strait of Hormuz), Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Cyprus, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, and Yemen.
* A terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states / under UN sanctions for terrorism
