Arab News Japan

TOKYO: With Israel resuming bombing in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region, Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that flights to transport Japanese nationals from Lebanon would be terminated.

Following Hamas’ attack against Israel in October 2023, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces transported Japanese nationals and others residing in Israel in October and November 2023, and from Lebanon in October 2024. Since then, the Self-Defense Forces have been on alert should the need arise to transport people from conflict zones.

“Taking into consideration the overall requirements for the transportation of Japanese nationals and others in the area, the Minister for Foreign Affairs requested the Minister of Defense to terminate the measures related to the transportation of those nationals and others,” a statement from the Defense Ministry said.

The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces said they will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary measures to respond to any situation, including the evacuation of Japanese nationals.

So far, the Self-Defense Forces have transported 145 Japanese nationals from the area on military aircraft.