An Air SDF aircraft departs for the Maldives from the Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture on March 8, 2026. Photo courtesy of Jiji Press.
Japan dispatched a transport aircraft Sunday to assist in the possible evacuation of its citizens from the Middle East as tensions escalate involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft departed early Sunday from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture and headed for the Maldives, where it will remain on standby.
Officials said the deployment is meant to provide backup support in case chartered flights arranged by the Japanese government encounter problems during evacuation operations.
The aircraft left the base at around 2:55 a.m., according to Japan’s Defense Ministry. The Maldives serves as a regular refueling and transit stop for Self-Defense Force flights traveling between Japan, the Middle East, and Europe.
The KC-767 aerial refueling and transport aircraft can accommodate about 200 passengers and carried around 30 Self-Defense Force personnel for the mission.
The deployment is being carried out under the direction of Lt. Gen. Kenichiro Nagumo, head of the Self-Defense Forces Joint Operations Command, which oversees coordination among the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces.
Preparations for the operation began after Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi requested support from Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Friday.
Koizumi subsequently ordered Nagumo to begin arrangements for the possible transport of Japanese citizens overseas under Article 84 of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces law.