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UK’s elite soldier unit faces exodus over ‘lawfare’ fears — warning sign for US military?

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Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) is facing a growing exodus as soldiers resign over fears they could face years of legal scrutiny for actions taken on the battlefield, according to a report in The Telegraph.
Several sources told the British newspaper that members of 22 SAS, the British Army’s most elite regiment, have applied for premature release amid anger over investigations into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, Syria and Northern Ireland.
The debate is not confined to Britain.
American troops could face similar concerns if political leaders fail to distinguish between legitimate investigations and politically motivated campaigns, according to John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute.
SIX DEMOCRATS URGE MILITARY MEMBERS TO ‘REFUSE ILLEGAL ORDERS’ IN VIRAL VIDEO; HEGSETH RESPONDS
«I welcome timely investigations of allegations of violations,» Spencer told Fox News Digital, «but want our leaders to protect all our forces, special or not, from agenda or politicized ‘witch hunts.’»
Australian Cpl. Ben Roberts-Smith attends a Victoria Cross and George Cross Association Reunion Service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on May 30, 2012, in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
In Australia, the case of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has become a rallying point for veterans who fear elite soldiers could face years of legal battles after serving in combat.
Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has denied allegations that he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. Earlier in April, Australian authorities charged him with five counts of murder related to his service in Afghanistan.
To many British veterans, the Australian case reinforces fears that the same trend could spread across other Western militaries, including the United States.

British armed forces work with the U.S. military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families on Aug. 21, 2021, in Kabul, Afghanistan. (MoD Crown Copyright/Getty Images)
At least two SAS squadrons have been affected, with several current and former members describing the losses as a «threat to national security.» The paper did not publish the precise number of departures for security reasons.
The resignations come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faces criticism over both defense spending and the treatment of veterans.
Britain’s armed forces have faced mounting scrutiny over their size and readiness in recent years. But the U.K. government says it is reversing that trend, reporting that total armed forces strength stood at 182,050 personnel as of Jan. 1, 2026, including 136,960 regular troops, an increase from the previous year.
The government also has pledged what it calls the largest sustained rise in defense spending since the Cold War, with military spending set to reach 2.6% of GDP by 2027, backed by an additional £5 billion this financial year and £270 billion in defense investment over the course of the current Parliament. Britain also has said it aims to raise defense spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the next Parliament.
Former and current soldiers said they believe Britain’s legal system has turned against troops who were sent to fight on behalf of the government.
«If a soldier discharges their weapon, they are almost certainly going to get a knock at their door one day,» George Simm, a former regimental sergeant major of 22 SAS, told The Telegraph. «It feels like a betrayal and a break in the trust.»
RETIRED GENERAL BLASTS DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS’ ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ VIDEO URGING TROOPS TO REFUSE ‘ILLEGAL’ ORDERS

Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS) is facing a growing exodus as soldiers resign over fears they could face years of legal scrutiny for actions taken on the battlefield, according to a report in The Telegraph. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters)
The controversy centers on ongoing investigations into British special forces operations.
A total of 242 special forces troops, including 120 still serving, are currently involved in legal inquiries costing roughly £1 million per month. Those inquiries involve operations in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Syria.
Critics say those investigations have created a culture in which soldiers fear that decisions made in combat would later lead to prosecution.
Andrew Fox, a former British Army officer and senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank, told Fox News Digital the relationship between soldiers and the government has been badly damaged.
«Soldiering contains a pact between the government and those they employ to use lethal force,» Fox said. «Soldiers will take human life within the rules set for them by international law, and in return, their governments should support them.
«This has been inverted, and international law has been weaponized and exploited by our enemies to persecute our soldiers. All too often, governments are coming down on the side of those enemies, not our troops.»
Fox said it was understandable that some soldiers would no longer want to serve.
«Of course, law breaking should be punished, but we are seeing a breakdown in trust between governments and their armed forces when politicians allow troops to be hounded through the courts unjustly,» he said.
Spencer said professional militaries depend on maintaining public trust through a strong internal justice system.
«A professional military holds the trust of its society because it lives by a strict ethical code, its laws, and its rules,» Spencer told Fox News Digital. «That trust is what gives soldiers the unique authority to use lethal force in the worst conditions a human being can face.»
Spencer said allegations of wrongdoing should be investigated quickly and fairly.
«We need investigations that move quickly and fairly on any credible allegation,» he said. «If there’s real evidence of wrongdoing under the law of armed conflict or the rules of engagement, then both the military and society must act on it. That’s how you keep the trust alive.»
PRINCE HARRY FIRES BACK AT TRUMP OVER NATO CRITICISM: ‘I LOST FRIENDS’ IN AFGHANISTAN

American troops could face similar concerns if political leaders fail to distinguish between legitimate investigations and politically motivated campaigns, according to John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
At the same time, Spencer warned that some legal campaigns risk crossing the line into what troops perceive as politically motivated «witch hunts.»
«I’ve seen too many human rights lawyers blur the line between basic human rights and the actual law of armed conflict,» Spencer said. «They don’t always understand the application of the use of force in context or the split-second chaos of combat. When that turns into what troops call witch hunts, it eats away at morale and readiness.»
Spencer said governments have a responsibility both to investigate credible accusations and to protect troops from what he called agenda-driven campaigns.
«It’s also the duty of the government to shield the military from agenda-driven witch hunts,» he said. «A rigorous military justice system and honest self-policing are essential for an ethical force. Without them, the profession loses the very trust that lets it do its job.»
Britain’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson told Fox News digital that, «While it is a long-standing policy of successive governments to not comment on U.K. Special Forces, we are immensely proud of all our Armed Forces and their extraordinary contribution to keeping the U.K. safe at home and abroad.»
«We are committed to ensuring that the legal framework governing our Armed Forces reflects the practical realities of military operations — and that those who served with honor are properly protected,» he added, «Where the U.K. undertakes military action, it complies fully with U.K. and international law. We are clear that upholding those standards does not prevent our Armed Forces from conducting effective operations.»
Former British military chiefs warned in an open letter to Starmer in late 2025 that soldiers increasingly believe they must worry about «not only the enemy in front of them but the lawyer behind them.»
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To many British veterans, the Australian case reinforces fears that the same trend could spread across other Western militaries, including the United States. (Guvendemir/Getty Iamges )
«Make no mistake,» the retired generals wrote, «our closest allies are watching uneasily, and our enemies will be rubbing their hands.»
national security, army, armed forces, investigations, veterans, united kingdom
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Mexico temple gunman ranted about pyramid’s gruesome history to hostages: ‘Don’t move, or I’ll sacrifice you’

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The gunman who killed a Canadian tourist and wounded several other people at Mexico’s ancient pyramids on Monday reportedly bragged about sacrificing his victims, according to a video taken by one of his hostages.
Julio César Jasso, 27, who was reportedly obsessed with Adolf Hitler, shouted as he pointed a gun at the terrified tourists atop the Pyramid of the Moon at Mexico’s Teotihuacan ruins, just outside Mexico City.
«Don’t move, or I’ll sacrifice you,» he said, the New York Post reported.
«This was built for sacrifices. Not for visiting and taking a f******, s***** photo,» he said in a video taken by a filmed by a tourist.
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Police and forensic workers stand on a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo)
Jasso purportedly timed the shooting to coincide with the 27th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, as well as Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
«See. I keep my word. Two f****** Koreans are dead there. I sacrificed them like dogs,» he said.
«You all, s***, who’ve come from f****** Europe, you’re not going back,» he continued.
RISE IN ANTISEMITIC EXTREMISM FUELS WAVE OF TERROR PLOTS IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 2020

The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are seen along with smaller structures lining the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on March 19, 2020. A gunman killed a Canadian tourist and injured several other before taking his own life at the popular site, authorities said Monday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Seven people were shot at the Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City. The ruins are one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
In total, 13 people were injured. The nature of the other injures weren’t disclosed but some people fell when the shooting started, including some who were climbing on the pyramids.

Forensic experts carry the body of a victim down a pyramid after a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on April 20, 2026. (Eduardo Verdugo/AP)
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Among those taken to a hospital were six people from the United States, three from Colombia, one from Russia, one from Brazil, one from the Netherlands and one from Canada, the local government said. The youngest person who was hurt was 6; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.
Jasso, who acted alone, shot and killed himself. Authorities later found a gun, a knife and ammunition at the scene.
mexico, historic sites, terrorism, assassinations murders, mass murder
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Left-wing group chases proof of Kash Patel’s alleged ‘excessive drinking’ as Dems eye FBI Director’s ouster

Kash Patel to sue The Atlantic over allegedly defamatory story
FBI Director Kash Patel joins Maria Bartiromo to discuss the ongoing investigation into 11 missing or deceased scientists with U.S. national security ties, potentially linked to foreign adversaries. He details China’s persistent cyberattacks and espionage against U.S. infrastructure and institutions. Patel vehemently denies The Atlantic’s allegations of excessive drinking and announces a defamation lawsuit, highlighting the FBI’s record-breaking crime reduction and efforts over 14 months.
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A left-wing lawfare group is trying to uncover records that might prove FBI Director Kash Patel engaged in behavior unfit for his role, such as «excessive drinking and unexplained absences.»
Democracy Forward, a group that supports left-wing policy positions in court on issues like DEI, immigration and abortion, sent a 16-page Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Justice Department on Tuesday. It asks for documents, schedules and communications that seek to prove allegations made against Patel in a recent article published by The Atlantic.
The report suggests the FBI Director has a drinking problem, poses a national security risk and is at the helm of persistent management failures at the bureau — and it comes as lawmakers warn Patel ‘is next’ after three Trump cabinet secretaries exited the administration in recent weeks.
DEMS’ ‘DELAY TACTIC’ TO ‘MALIGN’ PATEL AND STALL FBI CONFIRMATION DISMISSED AS ‘BASELESS’ BY TOP SENATE LEADER
FBI Director Kash Patel arrives to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 16, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«Kash Patel should be next,» Democrat House Whip Katherine Clark said after news broke of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s exit Monday following a probe into her own alleged ethical lapses.
«Start the clock,» Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., added following the Atlantic’s report.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Justice Department, the FBI and representatives for Patel regarding the FOIA request, but did not hear back in time for publication.
Meanwhile, Patel filed earlier this week a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic for its reporting on his alleged conduct.
Democratic Party leadership warning the FBI and DOJ about its duty to preserve all records related to alleged incidents involving Patel that could become subject to a potential congressional inquiry. Then came the FOIA filing.
«Democracy Forward Foundation seeks records that would help the public understand the issues raised in the Atlantic article as it relates to previous reporting on potential concerns surrounding Director Patel’s ability to run a key law enforcement agency and his use of taxpayer dollars,» the group’s letter to the Justice Department states.
PATEL DOUBLES DOWN ON FBI ELECTION HUB RAID, SAYS TRUMP CALLED AGENTS DIRECTLY TO THANK THEM FOR OPERATION
The group is interested in Patel’s calendars, schedule, text messages and other electronic communications between himself and his staff. Democracy Forward also specifically asks for any records reflecting «a request for or use of ‘breaching equipment’ that was made by or used by Director Kash Patel’s security detail.»

FBI nominee Kash Patel and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse are shown in separate images. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images (left); Tasos Katopodis via Getty Images (right))
The request comes at a time when the DOJ is facing it’s own shake-up after Pam Bondi was ousted as Attorney General earlier this month.Todd Blanche, once Bondi’s deputy, is serving as Acting Attorney General.
When asked about Patel’s future as the top dog at the FBI, Republican strategist Mark Bednar, who has worked for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and current Transportation Secretary and former Congressman Sean Duffy, was more supportive of his tenure, arguing the FBI has seen positive change since Patel took charge.
«In the years leading up to President Trump being elected to his second term, the American people had lost confidence in the FBI as an institution. Kash Patel is part of President Trump’s goal of revitalizing the agency and executing on the «Make America Safe Again» agenda,» Bednar told Fox News Digital.
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President Donald Trump speaks alongside FBI Director Kash Patel during a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A separate GOP strategist who requested anonymity argued that if Patel leaves it won’t be because of The Atlantic hit piece.
«If Kash Patel goes down, it won’t be because of a damaging Atlantic story, which is a badge of honor in this Administration,» they told Fox News Digital. «It’s more likely because the President views him as becoming a liability during a time of war, as well as a desire to clean house in one fell swoop as the midterms approach.»
«There’s already blood in the water with the three ousted Cabinet picks, and knocking out one more gives the President a chance to head into November with a refreshed slate and the best team around him.»
kash patel, fbi, investigations, democratic party
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Estados Unidos busca un acuerdo rápido, pero Irán se resiste

Al tratar con Irán durante las últimas seis semanas, Donald Trump ha descubierto que se enfrenta a una nación que se enorgullece de su resistencia y su capacidad de hacer que las negociaciones tomen tiempo. Y nunca ha quedado tan claro como en días recientes, cuando Trump intentó presionar a Irán sosteniendo que ya se había rendido –que “aceptaron todo”, afirmó el viernes, incluso entregar su “polvo nuclear”–, solo para describir que esa labia no surte efecto con los funcionarios iraníes, que recurrieron a las redes sociales para decir que todo era una invención del presidente estadounidense.
Así que en los próximos días, suponiendo que el vicepresidente JD Vance viaje a Islamabad este martes para intentar por segunda vez alcanzar un “marco” para un acuerdo, los dos enfoques están a punto de entrar en colisión directa. Si no estuviera tanto en juego –la perspectiva de nuevos combates en Medio Oriente, la escasez mundial de energía y la posibilidad muy real de que los dirigentes iraníes supervivientes salgan convencidos de que necesitan un arma nuclear más que nunca–, sería un caso de estudio clásico sobre estilos de negociación.
“Trump es impulsivo y temperamental; los dirigentes iraníes son testarudos y tenaces”, dijo Robert Malley, quien negoció con los iraníes en el periodo previo al acuerdo nuclear de 2015 y de nuevo en un esfuerzo fallido del gobierno de Biden.
“Trump exige resultados inmediatos; los dirigentes iraníes apuestan por una estrategia a largo plazo”, continuó Malley. “Trump insiste en un resultado llamativo, que acapare titulares; los dirigentes de Irán se esfuerzan por cada detalle. Trump cree que la fuerza bruta puede obligar a la obediencia; los dirigentes iraníes están dispuestos a soportar un enorme sufrimiento antes que ceder en intereses fundamentales”.
Hay una razón por la que la última gran negociación, concluida hace 11 años, se llevó la mayor parte de dos años, y pasaba de conversaciones secretas con quien entonces era el nuevo presidente iraní de tendencia pragmática a una negociación a gran escala que implicó decenas de reuniones.
El acuerdo final constaba de más de 160 páginas, incluidos cinco anexos técnicos que definían los límites de las actividades nucleares de Irán, el ritmo del alivio de las sanciones y, lo que es más importante, las obligaciones de Irán de cumplir las inspecciones del Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica. Cada página, y la mayoría de las disposiciones, desencadenaron una discusión; justo cuando se resolvían viejas cuestiones y parecía haber algún tipo de acuerdo, los negociadores iraníes llegaban con nuevas exigencias.
Los iraníes tienen sus propias quejas sobre los estadounidenses. El acuerdo que en 2015 finalmente se alcanzó –no se firmó, porque no era un tratado formal– fue anulado por Trump en 2018. Desde entonces, los iraníes han señalado que no tiene sentido negociar con un presidente si el siguiente va a desechar el acuerdo resultante.
Más recientemente, funcionarios iraníes han señalado que dos veces consecutivas, en junio de 2025 y de nuevo este febrero, Trump ha ordenado ataques contra Irán en medio de negociaciones diplomáticas. Los iraníes tacharon esto de perfidia, prueba de que Trump no es un interlocutor fiable.
Y la desconfianza desembocó en fuego cruzado durante el fin de semana, cerca del estrecho de Ormuz. Barcos iraníes abrieron fuego contra dos cargueros que, según dijeron, se estaban saltando el estricto control del Cuerpo de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica sobre quién puede, y quién no, navegar por el Estrecho. El domingo, la Marina estadounidense disparó contra la sala de máquinas de un enorme buque portacontenedores con bandera iraní, que la Marina ahora ha incautado. Trump señaló que el barco había sido sancionado por el Departamento del Tesoro en 2020, al final de su primer mandato, por un “historial previo de actividad ilegal”.
“¡Tenemos la custodia total del barco y estamos viendo lo que hay a bordo!”, escribió Trump en las redes sociales.
Una forma de interpretar estos movimientos es que son esfuerzos por dar forma a las sesiones de negociación, igual que los generales intentan dar forma al campo de batalla. Los iraníes están demostrando que, pase lo que pase o renuncien a lo que renuncien, podrán controlar el comercio a lo largo del estrecho y cobrar millones de dólares por el paso. El gobierno de Trump está demostrando que está dispuesto a reabrir las hostilidades si fracasan las negociaciones.
Leé también: Trump anunció que EE.UU. atacó y tomó el control de un barco iraní que intentaba cruzar el Golfo de Omán
Trump reforzó ese punto el domingo, cuando escribió que un buen acuerdo está sobre la mesa.
“Espero que lo acepten porque, si no lo hacen, Estados Unidos va a derribar todas y cada una de las centrales eléctricas y todos y cada uno de los puentes de Irán. BASTA DE SER UN BUEN TIPO”.
Fue el ejemplo más reciente de cómo Trump ha pasado de elogiar a los nuevos dirigentes de Irán, que sustituyeron a los que murieron en los ataques que comenzaron el 28 de febrero y a quienes calificó de “más razonables” que sus predecesores, a advertirles que se avecinan más actos de violencia si no se sale con la suya.
Pero aunque este es un elemento nuevo en las conversaciones, no lo es la división cultural en la forma de negociar. El primer ministro de Pakistán, Shehbaz Sharif, recibió al presidente del Parlamento iraní, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, y el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores, Abbas Araghchi, antes de las conversaciones de paz entre Estados Unidos e Irán en Islamabad el 11 de abril. (Foto de la Oficina del primer ministro de Pakistán / AFP)
Esa división era evidente hace 11 años, en los salones dorados del hotel Beau-Rivage Palace, de 160 años de antigüedad, en Lausana, Suiza, donde el secretario de Estado John Kerry y sus homólogos de otros cinco países se esforzaron por cerrar un acuerdo preliminar con Irán. Era, quizás, el análogo más cercano a lo que se está desarrollando ahora en Islamabad.
Cada día la delegación estadounidense hablaba sobre cuántas centrifugadoras había que desmontar y cuánto uranio había que enviar fuera del país. Sin embargo, cuando los funcionarios iraníes –incluido Abbas Araghchi, actual ministro de Asuntos Exteriores— salían de las elegantes salas con lámparas de araña para informar a los periodistas, la mayoría de las preguntas sobre esos detalles eran desechadas. Los iraníes hablaron de preservar el respeto de sus derechos y la soberanía de Irán.
“Recuerdo que finalmente conseguimos que los parámetros se acordaran en el hotel”, dijo el lunes Wendy Sherman, la principal negociadora estadounidense en aquel momento. “Y unos días después, el líder supremo salió y dijo: ‘En realidad, se requerían unos términos muy diferentes’”.
Sherman, quien llegó a ser vicesecretaria de Estado en el gobierno de Biden, acudía a estas negociaciones con un gran pelotón. A menudo tenía al principal experto en Irán de la CIA en la sala, o cerca de ella. También estaba el secretario de Energía, Ernest Moniz, experto en diseño de armas nucleares. Las propuestas planteadas por los iraníes se enviaban a los laboratorios nacionales estadounidenses, donde se diseñan y prueban las armas, para que los expertos analizaran si los acuerdos que se estaban discutiendo mantendrían a Irán al menos a un año de distancia de una bomba.
Pero el equipo negociador de Trump viaja ligero, sin séquito de expertos y con pocos informes. Jared Kushner y Steve Witkoff, el yerno del presidente y el enviado especial, aprendieron sus habilidades negociadoras en el sector inmobiliario de Nueva York y afirman que un acuerdo es un acuerdo. Dicen que se han sumergido en los detalles del programa iraní y lo conocen bien.
Por otra parte, incluso si las cuestiones que tienen delante son muy similares a las que enfrentaron los negociadores del gobierno de Obama, Kushner y Witkoff consideran que tiene poco sentido dedicar horas a desmenuzar los antecedentes diplomáticos, especialmente teniendo en cuenta lo que Trump ha dicho del acuerdo que surgió de esas negociaciones.
Pero Trump es claramente sensible ante las comparaciones que se avecinan. “El ACUERDO que estamos haciendo con Irán será MUCHO MEJOR que el JCPOA”, dijo, usando las siglas en inglés del Plan de Acción Integral Conjunto, el nombre formal del pacto de 2015. “Era un camino garantizado hacia un arma nuclear, algo que no ocurrirá, ni puede ocurrir, con el acuerdo en el que estamos trabajando”.
Y con eso, Trump fijó el criterio con el que será evaluada su propia negociación, si tiene éxito.
*Por David E. Sanger, periodista que cubre el gobierno de Donald Trump y una amplia gama de temas relacionados con la seguridad nacional. Ha sido reportero del Times durante más de cuatro décadas y ha escrito cuatro libros sobre política exterior y retos de seguridad nacional.
The New York Times, Donald Trump, Irán
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