Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stopped short of fully endorsing American-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants during his latest U.S. trip through Friday, including in his first U.N. General Assembly address since Japan abandoned its postwar policy of strictly limiting its use of force to self-defense.
Shortly before the closely watched general debate session began at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday, U.S.-led forces launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants and members of an al-Qaida affiliate called the Khorasan Group in Syria, expanding the military action beyond Iraq.
President Barack Obama drummed up support for the air campaign in his speech at the general debate and a special summit session of the Security Council he chaired. Many countries, including Britain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, have backed the bombing, with a number taking part in the operations.