Defence Minister Richard Marles announced that a small number of senior military officers would be stripped of their distinguished service medals due to credible evidence of war crimes committed under their command in Afghanistan.
In line with the 2020 Brereton Report's findings, Marles emphasized that the decision reflects the need for command accountability, stressing that while a few individuals acted improperly, the vast majority served honourably.
Although specific details about the officers affected remain undisclosed, Marles indicated that the ongoing investigations by the Office of the Special Investigator could take years, emphasizing the complexity of the situation.
The Brereton Report concluded that troop commanders hold moral responsibility for the actions of their subordinates, despite not finding evidence that senior leadership was aware of the alleged war crimes.
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