The Air Self-Defense Force transport unit in Kuwait began withdrawing Monday after completing late last week its Iraqi airlift mission that lasted four years and nine months, the Defense Ministry said.
The withdrawal will mark the end of the presence of the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. The SDF's role began under the authority of a special law passed in 2003 following the U.S.-led invasion earlier that year.
During their nearly five-year noncombat operations in Iraq, the SDF troops sustained no loss of life.
Shortly before 1 p.m. Monday local time, an ASDF C-130H cargo plane took off from Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, out of which the unit mainly operated, with two more due to leave for Japan later, the ministry said.