U.S. aircraft receiving fuel provided by the Self-Defense Forces and subsequently attacking Iraq would not constitute an act of collective defense, Osamu Akiyama, Cabinet legislation bureau director general, said Thursday.

"The logical conclusion is that it would not correspond to our country's use of force or exercising of the right to collective defense," Akiyama said in an appearance before the House of Councilors Budget Committee.

"The nature of supplying fuel itself does not correspond to use of force," Akiyama said of the rear-area logistic support the SDF is providing to the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan in accordance with a special antiterrorism law enacted in 2001.