Australia Charges Ex-Soldier With War Crimes in Afghanistan The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged a former soldier with five counts of murder in relation to alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan during the country's deployment as part of Operation Slipper. A 40-year-old man, who served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), has been taken into custody and is being held in a maximum-security facility in Sydney. The AFP conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations, which included gathering evidence and conducting interviews with witnesses. It is alleged that the former soldier, who cannot be named for legal reasons, killed or ordered the killings of unarmed civilians during a series of raids in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2013. The AFP has not released further details about the specific incidents, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. The charges were laid under the Australian War Crimes Act 2016, which makes it an offence for Australian citizens to commit war crimes, including murder, while serving with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) overseas. The AFP's investigation was conducted in conjunction with the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Special Investigative Unit, which was established to investigate allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. The former soldier is due to appear in court in May, where he will face the charges. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment. The charges come at a time of increasing scrutiny of the Australian Defence Force's actions in Afghanistan. In 2020, the ADF published a report into allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers, which found that there was credible evidence to suggest that Australian soldiers had committed war crimes, including the murder of unarmed civilians. The Australian government has committed to investigating all allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan and has established a special unit to investigate these allegations. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to hold Australian soldiers accountable for their actions in Afghanistan and to ensure that the country's military conduct meets the highest standards of international law and human rights. The AFP has urged anyone with information about the alleged war crimes to come forward and assist with the investigation.