As Lebanon Crisis Deepens, SDF Flies Out Japanese Nationals

UPDATED October 5 — On October 4, two Self-Defense Force (SDF) aircraft arrived in Jordan to evacuate Japanese nationals who wanted to leave war-torn Lebanon. Later that afternoon, the SDF completed the evacuation of 16 people, safely taking them to neighboring Jordan.

According to Kyodo News, the Japanese foreign ministry reported that among the evacuees were 11 Japanese nationals, along with a family member of foreign nationality, and 4 French nationals.

Fighting in the region between Israel and the pro-Iranian militia group Hezbollah has been intensifying. 

According to Japan's Ministry of Defense (MOD), two C-2 transport aircraft reached Jordan on the morning of October 4, JST. Working onsite, the SDF accelerated preparations for the evacuation. A C-2 thereafter entered Lebanon to carry out the October 4 evacuations to Jordan.

Safeguarding Japanese Nationals Overseas

Approximately 50 Japanese nationals are currently in Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Two Japanese residents had departed earlier on a chartered ship the Japanese government had arranged. They arrived in Cyprus on October 3.

According to the MOD, former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara ordered the dispatch of transport aircraft to Jordan and Greece on September 27. This decision followed a request from the foreign minister. The C-2 aircraft left the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture on October 3.

SDF and government aircraft have conducted eight evacuation actions in the past to rescue Japanese nationals. In autumn 2023, they transported nationals from Israel twice.

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Read the article in Japanese.

Author: The Sankei Shimbun and JAPAN Forward

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