Japan sends aircraft to Djibouti to evacuate citizens amid conflict

On June 21, 2025, two transport aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) took off for Djibouti to aid in the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Israel and Iran. This mission was initiated due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which had prompted concerns for the safety of Japanese citizens living in those countries. The two C-2 aircraft departed from the ASDF's Miho base located in Tottori Prefecture, with their mission underscored by the recent request from Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani’s order to prepare for the evacuation came after the Foreign Ministry reported that Japanese nationals had been moved to safer neighboring countries via chartered buses. As of the latest reports, there were 87 Japanese nationals and their family members evacuated from Israel and Iran, but around 1,000 Japanese citizens were still believed to be present in Israel and an additional 220 in Iran, demonstrating the scale of the evacuation challenges ahead. The diplomatic situation thus necessitated this action, marking a significant mission for the Self-Defense Forces, which last conducted a similar operation in Lebanon in October. The Japanese government was also preparing for another round of evacuations by bus in Iran as early as the subsequent day after this aircraft deployment, making it clear that the events in the region were prompting swift action from national leaders.