Two Self-Defense Forces planes have left Japan for Djibouti amid rising safety concerns over the Israel-Iran conflict, with no current airlift plans due to closed airports. Recent evacuations have taken place for Japanese nationals in Iran and Israel, and travel alerts have reached the highest levels for both nations.
Two planes from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces took off on Saturday, heading to Djibouti in eastern Africa, as part of a precautionary measure for a potential evacuation of Japanese citizens from the Middle East. This move comes as worries mount over safety amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The Defense Ministry reported that these C-2 transport aircraft left Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture carrying around 120 personnel. However, there are no specific airlift operations planned at the moment since the major airports in both Israel and Iran remain closed.
The tension in the region has risen sharply since June 13, when Israeli forces launched strikes against targets in Iran. This led to a series of retaliatory attacks between the two countries. The situation intensified further when U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at possible military actions to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
In a related event last Friday, the Japanese government successfully evacuated 87 nationals and their family members. Of those, 66 traveled from Iran to Azerbaijan, while 21 made their way from Israel to Jordan, utilizing government-arranged bus services. Before these evacuations started, the Foreign Ministry noted that about 280 Japanese citizens were in Iran, with another 1,000 in Israel.
In response to the growing threats, Japan raised its travel alert for all regions of Iran to its highest level, Level 4. This advisory recommends that all Japanese nationals evacuate the country and refrain from any travel there. Meanwhile, large parts of Israel continue to fall under Level 3 travel advisory, which urges citizens to avoid all travel there as well.
In summary, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces dispatched planes to Djibouti as part of a strategy for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals due to heightened safety concerns regarding the escalating military conflict in the Middle East. Recent evacuations have already taken place from Iran and Israel, while Japan’s travel advisories reflect the increasing dangers in these regions.
Original Source: english.kyodonews.net
