Australia's most decorated soldier charged with war crimes

Key Points:

• Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated soldier, was arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with five counts of war crimes related to the killing of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, each carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
• The Australian Federal Police allege the victims were detained, unarmed, and under the control of Australian Defence Force members when killed, either by Roberts-Smith or subordinates acting under his orders.
• Roberts-Smith, a former Special Air Service Regiment member, had previously denied wrongdoing amid allegations first reported in 2018, with a 2023 Federal Court ruling affirming four of six murder accusations; his final appeal was dismissed by the High Court in 2025.
• The investigation, complicated by lack of access to Afghan crime scenes, is part of a broader probe by the Office of the Special Investigator and AFP into alleged war crimes by Australian forces, with 53 investigations conducted and 10 ongoing.
• Amnesty International called Roberts-Smith's arrest a critical step toward justice, urging Australian authorities to fully investigate and prosecute all credible allegations of war crimes.