A House of Councilors panel passed a bill Friday that will enable the Self-Defense Forces to lend noncombat support to the U.S.-led antiterrorism campaign, moving the legislation another step closer to realization.

The bill cleared the Upper House's foreign affairs and defense committee in a vote backed by the ruling coalition -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party.

Another bill enabling the SDF to protect its own facilities and U.S. bases in Japan also cleared the committee in a vote in the evening.