Two Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) planes departed for eastern Africa on Saturday to stand by for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from the Middle East, as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate.
The C-2 transport aircraft left Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, carrying around 120 personnel, their Defence Ministry said. The aircraft will remain on standby at an SDF base in Djibouti.
According to Kyodo News, no evacuation flights are currently planned, as major airports in Israel and Iran remain closed.
The situation has intensified since Israeli strikes on Iran on June 13, prompting reciprocal attacks between the two nations. Tensions further heightened after US President Donald Trump suggested using military options to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
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According to the Japan’s Foreign Ministry, 87 Japanese nationals and their family members were evacuated on Friday, 66 from Iran to Azerbaijan and 21 from Israel to Jordan, using government-arranged buses.
Prior to the evacuation, approximately 280 Japanese citizens were in Iran and about 1,000 in Israel.
On June 17, Japan raised its travel advisory for all of Iran to Level 4, the highest level, urging citizens to "evacuate and avoid all travel." Most of Israel remains under a Level 3 advisory, which urges people to "avoid all travel."