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ICC allows Afghanistan war crimes probe

The ICC ruled unanimously to authorize an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan military and American-led forces.

An airman watches a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook in Afghanistan
An airman watches a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook in Afghanistan (AN/U.S. Army)

The International Criminal Court ruled unanimously on Thursday to authorize its chief prosecutor to investigate whether war crimes were committed in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan military and American-led forces.

The ICC appeals chamber's decision reverses a preliminary ruling from a pre-trial chamber nearly a year ago. Presiding Judge Piotr Hofmanski said the pre-trial chamber "erred" by weighing if the "interests of justice" would be served, instead of looking only at whether crimes were committed.

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