Soldier called 'Taliban-loving apologist' after questioning Afghan raid

Initially, Green was informed that the three brothers killed were Taliban commanders targeted in a deliberate operation that went wrong when they revealed weapons. However, Green’s unit’s intelligence team indicated there was no evidence they were Taliban commanders, suggesting they were farmers. Green conceded that special forces might have had access to other intelligence.

Green stated that concerns were raised early on that the “wrong people” had been shot by the International Security Assistance Force. He contacted a UK special forces liaison officer about the killings, which he believed had a “counterproductive negative effect” on the army’s aims. Green requested to see footage of the killings, known as “gun tapes,” to help understand the incident and engage with local nationals, but was denied access despite having the necessary clearance.

Green told the inquiry that the brothers’ mother, Bebe Hazrata, reportedly received the equivalent of £3,634 in cash from the UK Government as an “assistance payment.” Green interpreted this payment as an admission of guilt, noting that such payments were not made when Taliban leaders were lawfully killed in combat. He evolved from believing “you’ve got the wrong people” to thinking “you’ve got the wrong people and you’ve behaved unlawfully.”

As a battlegroup information operations officer, Green’s role included engaging with the local population to promote the Afghan government. He testified that the shootings “absolutely killed” this effort for the village of Rahim. Green became emotional during his evidence, expressing regret and acknowledging the difficult reality of prioritizing those one knows and loves in a high-casualty environment.