A squadron of Australian special forces operators unlawfully killed dozens of civilians in Afghanistan, according to a war crimes investigation that has prompted the disbanding of the unit.
“What this report discloses is disgraceful and a profound betrayal of the Australian Defence Force’s professional standards and expectations,’’ Judge Paul Brereton, who led the four-year investigation on behalf of the Australian Defense Force’s inspector general, said upon the release of his findings.
The report alleges that Australian special forces operators instructed their junior teammates to execute unarmed civilians and prisoners “to achieve the soldier’s first kill, in an appalling practice known as ‘blooding,’” as the top Australian defense official put it.
Brereton’s team put a particular spotlight on 2 Squadron, a unit that included Australia’s most decorated living service members but has since been disbanded, with the individual confirming that he is a target of the investigation.
“To the people of Afghanistan, on behalf of the Australian Defense Force, I sincerely and unreservedly apologize for any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers,” Defense Force Chief Angus Campbell said. “And to the people of Australia, I am sincerely sorry for any wrongdoing by members of Australian Defense Force.”
The alleged crimes took place in 2009 and 2010, as well as 2012 and 2013. Thirty-nine Afghan people allegedly were killed by 25 Australian soldiers in 23 different incidents outlined by the report, Campbell said.
“Those alleged to have been unlawfully killed were all people under control, in lay-terms prisoners, farmers and other civilians,” he said.
Nineteen soldiers face charges due to the findings of the report, but the details of their cases remain secret. Former Australian Army Cpl. Ben Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross — “the pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in wartime and Australia’s highest honor,” as the Defense Department describes it — plans to fight the allegations.
“It is heartening to hear that these matters, which have been the subject of rumors for years, will now be examined by a Special Investigator’s Office with expertise and experience to consider evidence not rumors and make decisions based on evidence rather than on unsubstantiated rumors,” he said.
Australian defense officials have heard enough to decide to disband the unit in which Roberts-Smith served.
“Although the incidents outlined in the inquiry occurred across the regiment, the report has made it clear that there was a nexus of alleged serious criminal activities in 2 Squadron, SASR, at a point in time,” Chief of Army Rick Burr said. “Future generations will be reminded of this moment in our military history from the gap in our squadron numbering system.”
