Sir Ben Wallace Rejects Claims of Being Uninterested in SAS Afghanistan Allegations

Former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace refuted claims made by ex-veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer that he lacked curiosity when responding to allegations of a cover-up regarding extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan.

Mercer, a former officer in the British Army like Wallace, wrote to the former defence secretary in August 2020 following the publication of emails expressing serious concerns about the killings of 33 Afghans in 11 nights in 2011 by senior officers in The Sunday Times.

When Mercer accused Wallace, the director of special forces, and the chief of general staff of not fulfilling their duties regarding the allegations, Wallace defended himself during the inquiry, calling Mercer’s claims of lacking curiosity “highly inaccurate” and asserting that he was indeed inquisitive.

The inquiry aims to determine if UKSF1 had a policy of executing unarmed men of “fighting age” in Afghanistan without posing a threat between 2010 and 2013.

Bereaved Afghan families alleged that UK special forces engaged in a “campaign of murder” against civilians while senior officers and MoD personnel allegedly hindered proper investigations into these alleged atrocities.

Questioned by inquiry counsel Oliver Glasgow, Wallace stated that he took the allegations seriously, delving into them internationally to verify the assurances he had received.

Wallace initiated the inquiry himself in 2022 after media reports surfaced, including a BBC Panorama investigation that reported 54 extrajudicial killings by UKSF1 during a six-month tour.

Wallace emphasized the need to act on evidence while defending the reputation of the armed forces from unfounded accusations.

During the inquiry, Wallace was also questioned about a letter from Peter Ryan affirming that the allegations of special forces murders were “broadly accurate,” to which Wallace responded that the inquiry was aimed at uncovering the truth.

The allegations about the SAS are being probed in a public inquiry at the Royal Courts of Justice, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, where law firm Leigh Day represents bereaved families and Brian Altman represents the MoD.

In a separate incident, Mercer was ordered by the judge to reveal the names of military personnel who disclosed information to him about extrajudicial killings after he initially refused to divulge their identities.

The Overseas Operations Act, passed into law in 2021 during Wallace’s tenure, reduced the period for prosecution of offences relating to rules of engagement committed abroad from 10 years to five years, shielding British troops from prosecution for older offenses.

The bill aimed to protect soldiers from what the government deemed as “vexatious” legal claims but was criticized for providing immunity for serious offenses. Despite amendments excluding war crimes, torture, and genocide from immunity, the law was passed with Wallace as secretary of state for defence.