KABUL: Australia’s special forces were aware of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan during the country’s occupation, including incidents in which weapons were placed beside the bodies of targeted Afghan civilians to make them appear to be combatants, The Guardian has reported.
According to the report, a military investigation conducted in 2021 found serious leadership failures, a breakdown in military discipline and attempts to cover up incidents within Australia’s special forces in Afghanistan.
A separate inquiry published in 2020, known as the Brereton Report, found credible information that Australian special forces personnel were involved in the unlawful killing of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners.
It also documented the alleged practice of planting weapons beside victims to portray them as legitimate military targets.
Australian Defence Force Chief Mark Hammond has acknowledged serious failures in the command of the country’s special forces, according to the report.