Australia has moved to revoke the medals of commanders who led units involved in alleged war crimes during the Afghanistan conflict. This decision comes after an inquiry found evidence of unlawful killings of civilians and prisoners by Australian special forces. The government is taking steps to address these past wrongdoings, including recommending compensation for victims’ families and implementing military reforms.
The UN’s Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan has released a harrowing report detailing widespread human rights abuses, likely amounting to war crimes, committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The report documents indiscriminate attacks on civilians, hospitals, and vital infrastructure, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers and sexual violence. The findings underscore the urgent need for international intervention to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable.
Ukraine has urged Mongolia to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit on September 3rd, citing an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. However, the Kremlin dismissed any concerns, stating that Putin’s trip to the ICC member state is not a cause for worry.
This article delves into the disturbing pattern of sexual violence being used as a weapon of war in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It examines both Hamas and Israeli security forces’ actions, revealing systematic and widespread acts of rape, sexual humiliation, and torture, targeting both women and men. The article highlights the psychological and physical impact of this violence, exploring its underlying motivations and the chilling implications of its institutional support.
The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has requested the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum in October. This follows an invitation to Putin, raising controversy amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The request is based on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges.
The UK, under its new Labour government, has abandoned a plan to challenge the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction over Israeli leaders. The previous government had sought to argue that the court lacked jurisdiction over Israeli nationals in the context of the Palestinian territories. However, the new government has stated that it will not pursue this proposal, maintaining that the matter is for the court to decide.
Iraqi authorities have uncovered a mass grave in Tal Afar, Iraq, believed to contain victims of the Islamic State group (IS). So far, 139 remains, including women, men, and body parts, have been removed from the Alo Antar hole, a natural desert feature turned into a mass grave by IS jihadists. The victims, believed to be Yazidis, Shiite Turkmen, and security forces personnel, were reportedly shot, had their throats cut, and were found in body bags and orange jumpsuits. The discovery comes after Iraqi forces retook control of the area in 2017, and the recovery process began in May 2023. The United Nations estimates that over 200 mass graves containing potentially 12,000 bodies exist in Iraq, left behind by IS.
A French appeals court is set to decide on Wednesday whether to uphold an arrest warrant for Syrian President Bashar Assad, issued last year for alleged complicity in war crimes during the Syrian civil war. The decision comes after French prosecutors argued for the lifting of the warrant due to Assad’s immunity as a serving head of state, while maintaining the warrants for his brother and two generals.
Iran and Sweden have agreed to a prisoner swap, freeing Hamid Nouri, who Sweden convicted of war crimes related to mass executions in Iran. In exchange, Iran has released Johan Floderus, a Swedish national working for the European Union, and Saeed Azizi. Oman served as a mediator in facilitating the swap, which saw Nouri return to Tehran and the Swedish citizens fly home.
The United Nations has released its first in-depth report on the October 7 attack in Gaza, finding that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes. The report details the deaths and displacement of thousands of Palestinians, as well as the captivity of hundreds of Israeli hostages by Hamas. Furthermore, the report highlights the systematic attack on the civilian population of Gaza, as well as the denial of humanitarian aid, resulting in the starvation of its inhabitants.
