中谷なかたに防衛ぼうえい相しょう 日本人にっぽんじん退避たいひに備そなえ 自衛隊じえいたい輸送ゆそう機きをジブチに派遣はけん命令めいれい

As the exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran continues, Defense Minister Nakatani ordered the Self-Defense Forces on the morning of the 19th to dispatch transport aircraft to their base in Djibouti, Africa, and remain on standby, in preparation for situations such as evacuating Japanese nationals from the area by air.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are about 1,000 Japanese nationals staying in Israel and about 280 in Iran, but since the airports in both countries are closed, the government plans to assist those who wish to evacuate the countries by land.

In this situation, on the morning of the 19th, Defense Minister Nakatani ordered the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch transport aircraft to their base in Djibouti, Africa, a neighboring country, and to have them stand by there in preparation for the possibility that the local airport might reopen and evacuation by air might become necessary.

As soon as preparations are complete, two Air Self-Defense Force C2 transport aircraft and approximately 120 personnel will be dispatched.

Minister Nakatani told reporters, “The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will make every effort to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals overseas with a strong sense of urgency, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others.”

In light of the current situation in the Middle East, we will consider possible responses with a broad perspective moving forward, he said.

Transport by Self-Defense Force aircraft has been carried out nine times so far. The transport of Japanese nationals and others staying overseas by Self-Defense Force aircraft has been carried out nine times so far.

In the most recent case, last October, as fighting intensified between Israel and Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim organization in neighboring Lebanon, a total of 16 people—including Japanese and French nationals who wished to evacuate from Lebanon—were transported to Jordan, a neighboring country.

Officials from the Ministry of Defense have said that, given the ongoing exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran, it would be difficult to dispatch transport aircraft to either country from a safety standpoint, and that they will respond while carefully assessing the situation.

The government is supporting the overland evacuation of those who wish to leave. In response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, the government has decided to assist Japanese nationals—about 1,000 in Israel and about 280 in Iran—who wish to evacuate overland.

According to senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran is scheduled to leave the area by bus in the early afternoon of the 19th Japan time, and Israel is scheduled to leave in the evening of the 19th Japan time, with both evacuating to neighboring countries.