By 
17-04-2026 | Roberta Moisuc | Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
Australian authorities arrested a former Australian soldier accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
Former Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on April 7th, 2026, in connection with his conduct during his deployment in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012. He is charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The arrest is connected to the Independent Afghanistan Inquiry report, which contains evidence of violations of international humanitarian law conducted by Australian special forces between 2005 and 2016.
In a defamation lawsuit in 2023, the judgment found the accused had killed several unarmed Afghans during his time serving in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. The trial was the first time a court had examined claims of war crimes committed by Australian forces that took place in Afghanistan. He denies the charges and claims that the alleged killings happened legally during combat.
Currently, the accused has not applied for bail release and will remain behind bars. The next scheduled court appearance will take place on April 17th, 2026.
