US warns Australia it may cut ties with SAS over Afghan war crimes

US government warns that allegations of war crimes against Australian soldiers in Afghanistan could prevent US forces from working with Australia's Special Air Service Regiment
General Angus Campbell received a letter from the US defense attache in Canberra in March 2021 suggesting the SAS may have been "tainted" by the allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan raised in an Australian investigation report
The Brereton report detailed "credible information" that Australian soldiers had unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners and civilians
The letter warned that the Brereton report could trigger a US law that prevents the country's military working with units linked to "gross violations of human rights"
Campbell did not inform the defense minister at the time and had not informed the current minister