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Australia’s elite forces have been charged with war crimes for trying to bring peace to Afghanistan.
Members of the special forces have killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in the war-torn country, according to an investigative report by the Australian Army (ADF).
The ADF released the report on Thursday after a four-year investigation, the Reuters news agency reported.
The investigation report said that senior commandos forced junior soldiers to kill unarmed prisoners as part of a war “bloodbath”.
A criminal investigation against 19 officers was recommended, citing their involvement in the killings.
The report also recommends compensation to the affected families.
Details of the long-awaited investigation into the activities of members of the Special Forces in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016 were released by Gen. Angus John Campbell, Chief of the Australian Defense Forces.
He told the media that in 23 cases credible information had been found that 39 people had been illegally murdered against 25 members of the Australian Special Forces.
The investigation report said that most of the dead were prisoners, farmers and civilians from other professions.
Campbell said the war had nothing to do with the killings.
He told reporters: “The investigation has found evidence of the most serious violations of military conduct and values. Illegal killings of civilians and prisoners are never acceptable.
Campbell said the investigation report would recommend that 19 current and former members of the Australian military be sent to a special investigator soon to verify that there is sufficient evidence to begin the trial.
The four-year investigation was led by New South Wales State Judge Paul Breton.
According to Reuters, the investigation examined more than 20,000 documents and 25,000 photographs and interviewed 423 witnesses.
The report comes after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
In a tweet, Ashraf Ghani said: “The Prime Minister of Australia has expressed his deepest condolences for the crimes committed by some Australian troops in Afghanistan.”
Australian troops have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2002 as part of the US-led coalition’s fight against Taliban fighters.
The country currently has about 1,500 Australian soldiers.
