Nine special forces soldiers face possible prosecution over alleged war crimes linked to two incidents in Syria, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

An additional member of the Armed Forces is under investigation over their actions in Afghanistan.

A few months ago it emerged that five members of the Special Air Service could face court martial after being accused of committing war crimes while serving in Syria.

The soldiers were said to have shot dead a suspected terrorist who they feared intended to carry out a suicide attack.

Senior officers accused the unnamed soldiers of using excessive force when an arrest would have been more appropriate. The incident happened more than two years ago.

The Times submitted a Freedom of Information request to the MoD asking it to disclose all cases being examined by the Service Prosecuting Authority (Spa) – the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service – in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.