SDF aircraft depart for Middle East to join U.S. occupation

In defiance of public protests, Self-Defense Forces' aircraft on July 10 left the SDF Komaki Base in Aichi Prefecture for Amman, Jordan's capital, to take part in supply-transport activities supposedly for Iraq's reconstruction.

Members of the Action Committee against the Japan-U.S. security Treaty and family members of war dead held a protest outside Komaki Base, calling for the SDF to stop cooperating in the U.S. occupation.

Two SDF transport aircraft, 100 air-SDF personnel, and 19 handguns were sent to Amman under the peacekeeping operation law. (end)