As the situation in the Gaza Strip intensifies and fighting continues around the border between Israel and neighboring Lebanon, the Ministry of Defense decided on the 27th to dispatch a survey team to collect information on the ground in preparation for transporting Japan people staying in Lebanon by Self-Defense Forces aircraft.
Fighting continues between Israeli forces and the Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah around the Israeli-Lebanese border, resulting in civilian casualties.
The Ministry of Defense has dispatched three Self-Defense Force aircraft in preparation for the evacuation of Japan people in Israel, but it has decided to dispatch a survey team in case the situation worsens further and Japan people staying in Lebanon are transported by Self-Defense Forces aircraft, according to interviews with people involved.
The investigation team consists of several members and will arrive in Lebanon on the 3th, Japan time, to collect information and coordinate with the local authorities.
On October 27, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the level of warning for Lebanon, placing the highest "evacuation advisory" around the border with Israel at 10 and the rest of the country with 20 "travel recessation advisories" and urging Japan people staying in Lebanon to consider leaving the country.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of Japan people staying in Lebanon was 4 as of October last year.