The first group of the core Ground Self-Defense Force contingent arrived here Wednesday.

The 90 GSDF members will stay at the U.S. Army's Camp Virginia in western Kuwait for preparatory work, including training in shooting and driving on desert terrain. They are to move overland, possible Saturday, to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where an advance team of 30 GSDF troops is already deployed.

After arriving at Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Col. Yasushi Kiyota said the troops "feel they are carrying Japan's expectations."