Investigation over photos that appear to show SAS in action
THE military is investigating photographs posted on Facebook purportedly showing elite special forces in training missions and on frontline operations.
The images – with soldiers’ faces blacked out – are understood to be in clear breach of rules which prevent special forces’ troops revealing operational details.
It is not clear where or when the photographs were taken but they appear to show members of the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) in Iraq and Afghanistan.
One source told The Daily Telegraph members of the 18 Signals regiment, which provides communications for the SBS and SAS may also be pictured.
In several of the photographs, troops are pictured working with military dogs, which are trained for a variety of roles, including carrying cameras and sniffing out explosives.
The Ministry of Defence last night expressed its concern at the publication of the photographs. A spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident involving soldiers sharing images online. We expect the highest standards of behaviour from our personnel at all times, whether on or off duty.
“If any action by service personnel are deemed to breach values and standards, they are treated very seriously and there are a number of sanctions available to the chain of command up to or including discharge.”
Members of the SAS and SBS are prevented from disclosing operational details under strict lifetime confidentiality agreements that preclude them – in theory at least – from telling their stories.