Americans released by Taliban return home
Dennis Coyle, an American, was detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan and held for over a year without ever facing any charges. He has now returned to the U.S., reuniting with his family in an emotional embrace.
In another development, Australian authorities arrested Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, the nation’s most decorated soldier, on five counts of murder related to alleged war crimes during the Afghan war. His arrest at Sydney Airport on Tuesday ignited a backlash, notably from a former prime minister who remarked that it’s unjust to apply civilian standards to those in wartime. Elon Musk also commented on the situation, describing it as “insane.”
The Australian Federal Police claim Roberts-Smith is responsible for the deaths of five unarmed Afghan individuals in incidents that occurred between 2009 and 2012. AFP’s Chrissy Barrett indicated that Roberts-Smith either killed the victims directly or ordered his men to do so. If found guilty, he could face life sentences for each charge.
Barrett stated, “The victims were not engaged in any hostilities when the alleged murders occurred.” She further disclosed that the victims were believed to have been restrained and under the control of Australian Defense Force personnel at the time.
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The investigation into Roberts-Smith commenced in 2021, as shared by Ross Barnett of the Special Investigations Division. Notably, he received the Victoria Cross during his fifth tour in Afghanistan.
Barnett acknowledged the challenges faced, considering some incidents took place over a decade ago and travel to Afghanistan for evidence collection was not possible. “We don’t have access to the crime scene or photographic evidence, making it really tricky,” he explained.
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The current Australian Prime Minister hasn’t yet commented on Roberts-Smith’s arrest. However, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott publicly voiced support for him, questioning the timing and fairness of the charges, especially given his honor. “If he’s guilty, why wasn’t this addressed before he received a gallantry award?” Abbott asked.
Claims about Roberts-Smith’s involvement in war crimes have circulated since articles emerged in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times back in 2017 and 2018.
Roberts-Smith once launched a defamation suit against the newspapers, leading to Australia’s most expensive libel trial, which concluded with a Federal Court judge affirming that four of the six murder charges were warranted.
One charge, which involved a restrained Afghan man named Ali Jan, claims that Roberts-Smith ordered him to be shot after he survived a fall from a significant height.
The High Court recently dismissed Roberts-Smith’s appeal against a prior judgment from September 2025. The criminal proceedings against him are part of a broader investigation by the Office of Special Investigations and the Australian Federal Police. Over 50 investigations have taken place regarding alleged war crimes involving Australian Defense Force personnel in Afghanistan, with ten still active.
