Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) C-2 aircraft landed in Jordan, ready for a possible evacuation mission of Japanese citizens from Lebanon following the recent escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah group. The airplanes took off from a base in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan. A third aircraft flew to Greece as part of efforts to provide operational flexibility and disperse risk, Japan's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

General Nakatani, the Defense Minister, confirmed his commitment to the safety of his fellow countrymen abroad, but he avoided providing specific operational details such as itineraries or times for repatriation. Currently, according to data provided by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, there are about 50 Japanese in Lebanon. Two of them have already left the country aboard a ship chartered by the Tokyo Government and are already safe in Cyprus.

As is known, tensions in the area have increased significantly after Israel began ground incursions against Hezbollah, an action not seen since 2006. A consequence of the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air raid on Beirut.

The Kawasaki C-2 is a twin-engine jet heavy tactical transport aircraft designed and built by the Japanese aircraft division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The plane officially entered service with the Jasdf in 2016, and today there are 13 operational units in its fleet.