Japan completes withdrawing air force from Iraq mission

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Japan starts withdrawing air force from Iraqi mission

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-23 16:58

TOKYO -- The last batch of Japan's main Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) troops returned Tuesday from the Iraqi airlift mission to Japan.

Some 140 ASDF soldiers, who had stationed in Kuwait, departed from Ali Al Salem Air Base earlier in the day and arrived at Nagoya Airport near the ASDF's Komaki air base in Aichi Prefecture at about 8:30 a.m..

As the four-year-and-nine-month Iraqi airlift mission of the ASDF ended, Japan began pulling its Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) transport unit from Kuwait on December 15.

On November 28, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada announced the withdrawal of the ASDF after the decision was made by Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Cabinet ministers concerned at a meeting of the national security council earlier in the day.

The ASDF began airlifting activities in Iraq in March 2004 and continued its mission in Iraq after the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops went back to Japan in 2006.

Deploying around 200 personnel, the ASDF has operated mainly from an airbase in Kuwait, using three C-130 transport planes.

The ASDF transport unit was tasked with airlifting troops and materials for the US-led multinational forces as well as for the United Nations to three airports in Iraq, including the country's capital, Baghdad.