LONDON -- The head of an official British investigation into alleged abuses during the Iraq War says that U.K. soldiers may face prosecution for crimes including murder.

Mark Warwick said the inquiry is probing "lots of significant cases" and officials will discuss whether they meet the war crimes threshold.

British forces withdrew from Iraq in 2009. Lawyers are still referring cases to the British government-established criminal probe into murder, abuse and torture claims linked to the six-year military mission.

The inquiry has considered at least 1,515 possible victims, including 280 who were allegedly unlawfully killed.

The probe is not due to finish its work until the end of 2019.