The first rotation troops of the Ground Self-Defense Force arrived Monday in the southern Iraq city of Samawah, Defense Agency officials said.
They are replacing GSDF troops who have been conducting humanitarian operations since mid-January.
The roughly 120 troops are part of a total rotation of 230. The unit, which flew from the Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait aboard an Air Self-Defense Force C-130, also includes 20 who arrived in Samawah via an overland route to bring in new vehicles.
The unit engaged in preliminary training at the U.S. camp in Kuwait for about a week after arriving in the country on May 9, the agency officials said. "We want to enhance the foundation established by the first GSDF contingent and to enrich Japan's support for the rebuilding of Iraq," said Col. Yuki Imaura, who heads the group.
The rotation troops primarily consist of the GSDF's 11th Division, based in Sapporo. The second wave of rotation troops left Japan on Saturday.