Following its initial evacuation plans from war-affected Middle Eastern countries, Japan will dispatch a Self-Defense Forces transport plane to the Maldives on Saturday for standby support, while chartered flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia operate on Sunday to repatriate nationals amid U.S.-Israeli tensions with Iran. The government will cover costs and prioritize elderly people and pregnant women.
The Japanese government announced further steps in its evacuation operation for nationals in the Middle East, where approximately 11,000 Japanese are registered amid escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a Friday press conference that a Self-Defense Forces C-130 transport aircraft will depart for the Maldives—an Indian Ocean island nation—on Saturday to prepare for potential evacuations.
Complementing earlier plans to transport people overland from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE to safer hubs in Oman and Saudi Arabia, chartered flights will launch from those countries on Sunday, bringing expatriates and families back to Japan. With limited capacity, priority goes to elderly individuals and pregnant women, and all costs will be covered by the government.
These measures build on Thursday's announcement raising danger advisories to level 3 for the affected nations, underscoring Japan's commitment to citizen safety in the region.