Australia has stripped senior defence commanders of military honours over alleged war crimes committed under their watch in Afghanistan.

In parliament on Thursday, Defence Minister Richard Marles said they would lose their distinguished service medals, as recommended by a landmark inquiry which found an unchecked “warrior culture” within parts of the force.

The Brereton Report, released in 2020, found “credible evidence” that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war in Afghanistan.

“This will always be a matter of national shame,” Mr Marles said.

He would not confirm how many officers are affected, but said it was less than 10.

The decision does not affect those under investigation for war crimes themselves, including Australia’s most decorated living solider, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.

He denies any wrongdoing but in a high-profile defamation case last year was found – on the balance of probabilities – to have murdered four unarmed prisoners.

The civil trial was the first time a court has assessed accusations of war crimes by Australian forces.

Local media report that dozens of Australian soldiers are also being investigated for their roles in alleged war crimes. But so far charges have only been laid against one, former SAS trooper Oliver Schulz.