An ASDF plane successfully evacuated 16 people from Lebanon to Jordan amidst the increasing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as confirmed by the Japanese government. The C-2 transport aircraft, stationed in Jordan, was ready to act upon Defense Minister Gen Nakatani’s orders to rescue Japanese citizens. The group of evacuees included 11 Japanese nationals, a foreign-born family member, and four French nationals.
Amidst the escalating tension, there were approximately 50 Japanese nationals in Lebanon. Prior to this evacuation, two individuals had already departed via a government-arranged charter vessel to Cyprus. Another C-2 aircraft from Tottori is on standby in Jordan, with Greece as their next destination for a potential evacuation mission.
The situation in Lebanon has worsened, with Israeli forces launching limited ground operations against Hezbollah, followed by retaliatory actions by Iran. This marks Japan’s ninth overseas evacuation operation, including two from Israel after an attack by Hamas. The ASDF’s prompt response signifies their ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in conflict zones.
© KYODO