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British troops training at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan in 2011
ALLEGATIONS of unlawful killings of civilians, including children, and cover-ups by the British military in Afghanistan are “extremely serious” and law-breakers should be referred to authorities, the chairman of an independent inquiry demanded today.
Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said the “reputation of the armed forces and the country” is at stake, stressing that his probe, set to consider the activity of the armed forces in the central Asian state between 2010 and 2013, will “get to the bottom” of the claims.
The senior presiding judge for England and Wales said the inquiry — launched by Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace following legal challenges by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families — is equally important to “have the cloud of suspicion lifted” from innocent parties.
Outrage greeted Donald Trump’s suggestion earlier this year that Britain stayed off the front lines. But evidence suggests our forces were at times pulled from the most dangerous fighting — not by military failure, but by pressure at home, says IAN SINCLAIR
Israeli media awash with leaks and rumours of Netanyahu’s plans to seize Gaza. Meanwhile, the unrelenting siege of Gaza continues unabated
