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Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) is facing a growing exodus as soldiers resign amid fears they face years of legal investigation over actions taken on the battlefield, according to a British newspaper. message in De Telegraaf.
Several sources told the British newspaper that members of 22 SAS, the British military’s most elite regiment, have applied for early release amid anger over investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, Syria and Northern Ireland.
The debate is not limited to Britain.
U.S. forces could face similar problems if political leaders fail to distinguish between legitimate investigations and politically motivated campaigns, Urban Warfare Institute Executive Director John Spencer said.
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Australian Cpl. Ben Roberts-Smith VC, MG attends a Victoria Cross and George Cross Association reunion service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on May 30, 2012 in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
In Australia, the case of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has become a rallying point for veterans who fear elite soldiers face years of legal battles after serving in combat.
Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has denied allegations he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Earlier in April, Australian authorities charged him with five murders linked to his service in Afghanistan.
For many British veterans, the Australian case reinforces fears that the same trend could spread to other Western militaries, including the United States.
The British Armed Forces are working with the US military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families from the country on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (MoD Crown Copyright/Getty Images)
At least two SAS squadrons have been hit, with several current and former members describing the losses as a ‘threat to national security’. For security reasons, the newspaper did not publish the exact number of departures.
The resignations come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faces criticism over both defense spending and the treatment of veterans.
The British armed forces have come under increasing criticism over their size and preparedness in recent years. But the British government says it is reversing this trend, reporting that the total armed forces stood at 182,050 personnel as of January 1, 2026, including 136,960 regular troops, an increase on the previous year.
The government has also promised what it calls the largest sustainable increase in defense spending since the Cold War, with military spending expected to reach 2.6% of GDP by 2027, supported by a further £5 billion this financial year and £270 billion of defense investment over the course of the current parliament. Britain has also said it wants to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the next parliament.
Former and current soldiers said they believe the British justice system has turned against troops sent to fight on behalf of the government.
“If a soldier fires his weapon, there will almost certainly be a knock on his door one day,” George Simm, a former sergeant major of the 22 SAS, told the Telegraph. “It feels like a betrayal and a breach of trust.”
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Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) is facing a growing exodus as soldiers resign amid fears they face years of legal investigation over actions taken on the battlefield, according to a report in The Telegraph. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)
The controversy centers on ongoing investigations into British special forces operations.
A total of 242 special forces, including 120 still in service, are currently involved in legal investigations costing around £1 million a month. These investigations relate to operations in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Syria.
Critics say these investigations have created a culture in which soldiers fear that decisions made in combat will lead to prosecution later.
“Soldiering involves a pact between the government and those it employs to use lethal force,” Fox said. “Soldiers will take lives within the rules imposed on them by international law, and in return their governments must support them.
“This has been reversed, and international law has been weaponized and exploited by our enemies to persecute our soldiers. Too often, governments choose those enemies, not our troops.”
Fox said it was understandable that some soldiers no longer wanted to serve.
“Of course breaking the law must be punished, but we see a breakdown in trust between governments and their armed forces when politicians allow troops to be unfairly routed through the courts,” he said.
Spencer said professional militaries depend on maintaining public trust through a strong internal legal system.
Spencer said allegations of misconduct must be investigated quickly and fairly.
“We need investigations that are swift and fair following every credible allegation,” he said. “If there is real evidence of misconduct under the law of armed conflict or the rules of engagement, then both the military and society must act on it. This is how you keep trust alive.”
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U.S. forces could face similar problems if political leaders fail to distinguish between legitimate investigations and politically motivated campaigns, Urban Warfare Institute Executive Director John Spencer said. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
At the same time, Spencer warned that some legal campaigns risk crossing the line into what troops consider politically motivated “witch hunts.”
“I have seen too many human rights lawyers blur the line between basic human rights and the actual law of armed conflict,” Spencer said. “They don’t always understand the application of force in context or the chaos of a split-second battle. When that turns into what troops call witch hunts, it eats away at morale and readiness.”
Spencer said governments have a responsibility to investigate credible allegations and protect troops from what he called agenda-driven campaigns.
“It is also the duty of the government to protect the military from agenda-driven witch hunts,” he said. “A rigorous military justice system and fair self-policing are essential to an ethical force. Without them, the profession loses the trust that allows it to do its work.”
Former British military leaders warned in an open letter to Starmer in late 2025 that soldiers increasingly believe they have to worry about “not just the enemy in front of them, but also the lawyer behind them.”
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For many British veterans, the Australian case reinforces fears that the same trend could spread to other Western militaries, including the United States. (Guvendemir/Getty Iamges)
“Make no mistake,” the retired generals wrote, “our closest allies will be watching uncomfortably, and our enemies will be wringing their hands.”
