7am Why SAS troops used wrong rules of engagement
Feb 13, 2025
Ben McKelvey, a journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper, dives deep into the controversies surrounding Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan. He reveals how SAS troops misapplied foreign rules of engagement, leading to tragic incidents, including the deaths of civilians. The conversation highlights the systemic failures within military oversight and the need for accountability. McKelvey also touches on the significant implications for the reputations and morale of the troops, calling for a Royal Commission to address these serious issues.
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Sola Raid
- In Sola, Afghanistan, 2012, an SAS raid followed the killing of three Australian soldiers by an Afghan sergeant.
- The SAS detained several Afghans, and in the ensuing events, two Afghan men, a father and son, were killed.
Wrong Rules of Engagement
- An investigation revealed Australian SAS soldiers used ISAF rules of engagement, not Australian rules, during the Sola raid.
- This "systemic failure" may have led to unjustified killings, as ISAF rules allowed for lethal force based on "hostile intent" rather than "hostile act."
Interpreting Hostile Intent
- Hostile intent, under ISAF rules, could be interpreted broadly, including acts like running towards a river where weapons might be cached.
- Such an act might not justify lethal force under Australian rules of engagement, highlighting the difference in interpretation.