An investigation is underway into the actions of members of the UK’s Special Boat Service (SBS) during a special forces operation in Libya two years ago.
The probe, first reported by The Daily Mail, centers around an incident involving a car chase in which shots were fired, although details of what exactly happened and how many SBS members are being investigated remain unclear.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declined to comment on the matter, citing its policy of not discussing special forces operations.
This secrecy has contributed to a lack of public awareness about British military personnel conducting operations in Libya in recent years.
The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, has yet to result in any charges or referrals to the Service Prosecution Authority (SPA), the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service. The SBS, one of the UK’s two main special forces units alongside the SAS, primarily recruits from the Royal Marines.
This development comes amid a broader context of UK special forces operations in Libya, which date back to 2011 when NATO launched an air campaign targeting Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.
It is now clear that UK special forces have maintained a presence in the country in recent years.
An MoD spokesman emphasized the high standards expected of UK personnel and the consequences of failing to meet those standards, including dismissal from service.
