Australian special forces kill 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan – report – International

According to Reuters, Australian special forces have killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan, with some commanders forcing soldiers to kill defenseless prisoners to prepare them for battle.

Australia announced Thursday that 19 former and current military personnel will be sent to the prosecutor’s office for a possible indictment of the killing of 39 Afghans.

Presenting the long-awaited results of the investigation into the conduct of special forces in Afghanistan in 2005-2016, Australian General Angus John Campbell said there was credible information on 39 crimes committed by 25 members of the Australian special forces in 23 separate incidents.

All the killings took place outside of “battle fire,” Campbell said.

“This information points to the most serious violations of military conduct,” he added at a news conference in Canberra.

“Killing civilians and prisoners outside the law is never acceptable,” Campbell said.

According to the report, most of the people killed, including prisoners, farmers and other Afghans, were captured when they were killed, meaning they were under the protection of international law.