Elite SAS soldiers ‘ditched by their US counterparts during ISIS strike missions due to fears of trumped up war crimes charges’
American allies are said to be becoming impatient with Brits over the issue
BRITISH soldiers are said to be so afraid they'll be hauled before the courts for how they treat ISIS captives - that their US counterparts have had to leave them behind on missions and go it alone.
Last week it emerged that several special forces officers who worked with the 22 Special Air Service (SAS) now face being probed over their actions in Iraq.
It is understood that US Delta Force officers have become so frustrated over their unwillingness to capture ISIS commanders, they have abandoned the Brits at least twice so far.
An SAS source told the last night: “We just can't do things the old way.
“The Americans are seeing a reticence that did not exist before. We have always stayed within the box, but we used to work things out as we went along.
“The feeling now is that it’s not enough. We know each and every one of us can suddenly come back to find our names on an investigations list. Or it could happen many months, or even years later.
“It feels like getting a manual car and being told we can only use one hand to drive it.
“So while we check and double check orders, work things out to the smallest detail, the window of opportunity to act on an HGV gets smaller. The delay is causing impatience with the Americans.”
The incidents are believed to have happened over the last few months, as Special Forces carried out a high profile campaign to undermine ISIS resistance near Mosul and the Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.
When asked if the claims were true, the Ministry of Defence said it does not comment on special forces operations.
In April, US President Barack Obama announced an extra 250 Special Forces in Syria to support rebel factions in keeping gains made against so-called Islamic State.
Related stories
In recent weeks former SAS Sgt Colin Maclachlan has been facing an inquiry by the Royal Military Police into the alleged “mercy killing” of three enemy combatants, who had been mortally wounded during the 2003 invasion of southern Iraq.
Other soldiers, who cannot be named, are facing a probe after allegations that a team of SAS soldiers beat a group of Iraqis six days after the slaughter of six Royal Military Policemen at the Shia town of Majar-al-kabir.
Another serving officer told the Sunday Express: “We are trained to do our job very well, and we are being used now more than ever.
“Everyone knows that there is no need for parliamentary consent to deploy us. So, while regular regiments stick to training Iraq or Syrian troops, which is important of course, we deploy to directly undermine the enemy.
“There are always rules of engagement. Of course we recognise this and adhere to them.
“Increasing red-tape and bureaucracy will hinder us.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368