Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has denied allegations of killing civilians in Afghanistan during his military service, in a lengthy radio interview. Roberts-Smith, who served in the country from 2001 to 2005, was recently charged with war crime murders. The interview, which lasted over two and a half hours, saw him deny any civilian casualties during his time in the conflict zone.
The charges against Roberts-Smith stem from a 2021 report by the Australian Defence Force’s inspector general, which alleged that he was involved in the deaths of two civilians. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied these claims, stating that he did not commit any war crimes. During the interview, he described his actions as necessary for the mission and emphasized his commitment to military ethics.
This is not the first time Roberts-Smith has faced scrutiny over his actions in Afghanistan. In 2017, he was charged with war crimes related to the deaths of two Afghan civilians, but those charges were later dropped. The current allegations have reignited public and political debate over the conduct of Australian troops in the region. The case highlights ongoing tensions between military accountability and the complexities of combat operations.
