Australian SAS officers knew about unlawful 'throwdowns' on dead Afghans, report says

Some Australian SAS officers knew that soldiers under their command were planting weapons on dead Afghan civilians to make them appear as combatants, a practice known as 'throwdowns', but did nothing to stop it, according to a previously unpublished military report. The executive summary of a 2021 investigation by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) into the cultural context of the special operations command was posted online this week. It is scathing about a 'breakdown of command' and erosion of military discipline during special forces operations in Afghanistan, which 'resulted in episodes of potential and actual egregious behaviour'. The report highlights a failure of leadership and oversight that allowed unlawful conduct to persist, raising serious questions about accountability within Australia's elite military units. The findings underscore the need for systemic reforms to restore integrity and adherence to the laws of armed conflict in future operations.