SECURITY — April 13, 2026
Former Australian Soldier Ben Roberts-Smith Arrested on Afghanistan War Crimes Charges
Ben Roberts-Smith, a former Australian soldier, was arrested last week at Sydney Airport on expected charges of five counts of murder as a war crime related to incidents in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. An anonymous ex-soldier confirmed Roberts-Smith committed war crimes and praised those testifying against him as heroes.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Pajhwok — 2 min read
SYDNEY (Afghan Verified) -- Ben Roberts-Smith, a former Australian soldier, was arrested last week at Sydney Airport in connection with alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan.
The Australian Federal Police indicated that five counts of murder as a war crime are expected against Roberts-Smith. The charges relate to three separate incidents that occurred between 2009 and 2012 in Afghanistan.
A former Australian soldier, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Roberts-Smith committed war crimes during a mission in the country. The soldier emphasized that troops were deployed to protect civilians, not to kill innocents, and described those testifying against Roberts-Smith as "the real heroes."
If proven, the charges could carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Roberts-Smith, a recipient of Australia's highest military honor, the Victoria Cross, has been the subject of a high-profile civil defamation case in recent years where allegations of war crimes were raised. However, this marks the first criminal charges brought against him by authorities.
The arrest comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Australian special forces operations in Afghanistan, where multiple inquiries have uncovered evidence of unlawful killings by soldiers.
Read the original reporting at Pajhwok →
Reliability assessment
Single source (Pajhwok) provides concrete, checkable details: named individual (Ben Roberts-Smith), specific location (Sydney Airport) and timing (last week) for arrest, attribution to named organization (Australian Federal Police) on expected charges.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
Roberts-Smith, once lionised as the country’s most decorated Afghanistan veteran, <strong>sued three newspapers over allegations he committed war crimes, murdered unarmed civilians and bullied his comrades</strong>.
<strong>Former Australian special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested at Sydney Airport and charged with alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan</strong>.
Ben Roberts-Smith - who left the defence force in 2013 - was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and will face court over five counts of the war crime of murder.
Roberts-Smith was once Australia’s most decorated soldier. A former patrol commander of the Special Air Service Regiment, he received Australia’s top two military honors and was named Australia’s Father of the Year in 2013, the same year he left the army. The Australian Federal Police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the Afghan victims had been unarmed and were “not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder.”
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Security — Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia, war crimes, Afghanistan, Australian Federal Police
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