Two members of a Ground Self-Defense Force advance team to Iraq arrived back in Tokyo on Friday and reported to the government that the southern part of the country is safe enough for deployment of the main GSDF troop body.
The government will thus issue the order, possibly Monday, for the dispatch of the main contingent, expected to number 550, as well as one to send one or two Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels that will carry equipment to be used by the GSDF.
The two advance team members briefed Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba in the afternoon on the security and tribal situation in the southern city of Samawah, where the troops will be deployed for their humanitarian aid mission.