Ignoring public criticism, the Maritime Self-Defense Force transport ship Osumi assigned to transport supplies for Ground Self-Defense Force troops in Iraq left Kure Port in Hiroshima Prefecture on February 14 for Kuwait.
Loaded with light armored vehicles and supplies for the ground troops in Iraq, the 8,900-ton Osumi will arrive in Kuwait early next month, escorted by the MSDF destroyer Murasame.
GSDF and Air SDF units are already in Samawah in southern Iraq and in Kuwait. The departure of the MSDF vessel marks the first time after World War II that Japan has deployed all three SDF branches in an overseas operation.
In Kure City, about 40 members from the Association for a Non-nuclear Kure Port held a rally and shouted, "No to sending Osumi", and "the SDF must withdraw from Iraq".
Protest actions also took place in Kyoto Prefecture with about 300 citizens and in Kasukabe City in Saitama prefecture with about 120 people. (end)
