Preparations to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq got into full swing Friday, with Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba issuing orders for the dispatch of an advance unit.
Ishiba ordered the Air Self-Defense Force to send "on or after Dec. 26" an advance unit to Kuwait and Qatar, where the government plans to set up bases to conduct ASDF airlift operations into Iraq.
The advance team will gather information, said Yoshimitsu Tsumagari, chief of staff of the ASDF.
Ishiba will decide on whether to go ahead and deploy larger ASDF units after considering the team's reports, he said.
Ishiba also ordered the Ground Self-Defense Force and Maritime Self-Defense Force to prepare for missions.
Separately, the Cabinet approved 2.42 billion yen in additional spending to be used by the Defense Agency for the SDF's Iraq missions.
The money will be spent on the purchase of equipment and commodities to be used by SDF personnel.