Two Air Self-Defense Force planes left Japan to prepare for the possible evacuation of Japanese citizens from Lebanon, where tensions are rising between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Two C-2 transport planes left Miho air base in the western prefecture of Tottori, bound for Jordan and Greece, the Defense Ministry said. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 50 Japanese are in Lebanon.
The Defense Ministry formed a 500-member joint operational unit after then-Defense Minister Minoru Kihara ordered the ASDF on Sept. 27 to dispatch the planes. It had been asking other countries for permission to fly through their airspace.
If an evacuation becomes necessary, the new Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani, will give the order and Japanese citizens will be transported aboard C-2 aircraft to a nearby country.
“We have not received any information about Japanese casualties or injuries,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference on Thursday.
The situation in Lebanon has rapidly worsened, with Israeli forces announcing on Tuesday that they had begun “limited and localized” ground operations against Lebanon-based Hezbollah, in their first ground invasion of Lebanon since 2006.
The news came after the deadly detonations of locators and walkie-talkies against members of Hezbollah and the Israeli airstrikes against the group’s headquarters in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, in which its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed.
In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
Japan, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude exports, has traditionally pursued a strategy of “balanced diplomacy” between Arab nations and Israel, backed by the United States, Tokyo’s security ally.
To date, Japan has carried out airlift operations for its citizens abroad eight times, including two from Israel, following the surprise attack carried out a year ago by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The position of the Japanese government
Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its deep concern over the recent ballistic missile attack launched by Iran against Israel on October 1. Foreign Minister Iwataya Takeshi strongly condemned the escalation of the conflict, warning about the deterioration of the situation and the impact it could have on the stability of the region, fundamental for Japanese interests.
The Japanese government has urged all parties involved to take immediate measures to calm the situation. Peace and stability in the Middle East are crucial for Japan, given its high degree of energy dependence on oil-exporting countries in the region. Japan has reiterated the importance of avoiding further escalation of the conflict, advocating for diplomatic solutions that prevent further violence.
Additionally, Japan pledged to redouble its diplomatic efforts and protect its citizens abroad. The country is prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Japanese residents in conflict-affected areas, while continuing to promote stability and peace in the region through international dialogue and cooperation.
Source: https://reporteasia.com/relaciones-diplomaticas/2024/10/03/aviones-japon-posible-mision-evacuacion-libano/
