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[global times comprehensive report] according to the australian broadcasting corporation (abc) on the 12th, australian defense minister richard marrs stripped several senior military officers of their honors on the grounds that they were suspected of committing war crimes during the war in afghanistan. at present, due to the privacy provisions of relevant laws, the names and number of officers involved remain confidential, but the government said "less than 10 people."

the news came as the australian government announced its final response to some of the findings in the landmark brereton report, which involved allegations of war crimes committed by australian special forces in afghanistan. reuters said the brereton report showed evidence that 25 members of the australian defense force were suspected of illegally killing 39 civilians and prisoners. forcing recruits to shoot prisoners to "see blood" was part of the culture at the time. in addition, some soldiers placed weapons and ammunition next to the bodies of innocent afghan civilians who died, creating the illusion that the dead were armed personnel.

a statement released on the australian government website on the 12th showed that australia launched the brereton inquiry in 2016 and released the inquiries in 2020. the following year, the australian department of defense launched the "afghanistan inquiry reform program" to investigate the recommendations of the report and formulate reform measures. after the decision to "strip the outstanding service medal of the defense force officers" was implemented, mars announced that "the work of the 'afghanistan inquiry reform program' has officially ended."

the sydney morning herald reported that mars said in a speech to parliament on thursday that the most serious war crime charges in australian history "will always be a national shame" and that the trials of these people will be conducted in the country. however, the decision to "strip the medal" will not have any adverse effects on the promotion of the execution targets, and whether to give up the physical medal is also decided by the individual, and they can choose to keep it as a commemoration.

the bbc reported that the decision would not affect those under investigation for war crimes, including ben roberts-smith, australia's most decorated living soldier and victoria cross winner. last year, a court ruled that reports of his killing of afghans were true, but he was not ultimately charged with a crime.