Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 14, 2004
2nd unit of Japan ground troops leaves for Iraq mission
The second core unit of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) on Saturday left for Kuwait on two government aircraft to participate in reconstruction operations in Iraq.
The second core unit of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) on Saturday left for Kuwait on two government aircraft to participate in reconstruction operations in Iraq.
The 190 members, including 11 female officers, will be followedby the GSDF's third and last contingent consisting of some 120 officers to be dispatched to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah later this month.
Like the previous units dispatched, the second contingent will first undergo training for a few days at a US Army camp in Kuwait before entering Iraq by land to join the other GSDF troops in Samawah.
With the third or the last unit, Japan's GSDF troops in Samawahwill number 550.