Australian Military Commanders Stripped of Medals Over Alleged War Crimes

Recent news revealed that several serving and former Australian military commanders have been stripped of their medals due to allegations of war crimes committed during the Afghanistan war. Defense Minister Richard Marles announced this controversial decision based on the recommendations of Maj. Gen. Paul Brereton’s war crime investigation.

The investigation found that approximately 25 Australian Special Air Service Regiment and Commando Regiment troops were involved in the unlawful killings of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. Marles emphasized the severity of these allegations, calling them some of the most serious in Australian history.

The decision to remove the medals sparked outrage among military associations, with Australian Special Air Service Association chair Martin Hamilton-Smith condemning it as a betrayal of soldiers’ courage and sacrifice. However, Marles clarified that the medals were not stripped because of personal wrongdoing but to hold commanders accountable for their units’ actions.

Opposition lawmaker Andrew Hastie also weighed in, stressing the need for accountability among political leaders and military hierarchy for potential war crimes. Despite the controversies, no Australian veteran has been convicted of war crimes in Afghanistan to date.