Some 200 Japanese troops arrived Sunday in Kuwait on their way to neighboring Iraq to take part in a "humanitarian mission".
The group of 190 Japanese troops, included 11 women, marking only the second time Japanese female soldiers have
been sent overseas in nearly 50 years.
The soldiers arrived on board two Japanese government
planes, and were transported by bus to a US military base
in the desert where they will train before heading to the
southern Iraqi city of Samawah. They will be joining 200
other Japanese soldiers already there who have been
purifying water and rebuilding local infrastructure.
"We hope to make the people of Samawah happy," said the
commander of the unit, Lt. Col. Katsutoshi Shigenobu.
Speaking on the tarmac through an interpreter, Shigenobu
described the deployment as a "great" opportunity for the
Japanese soldiers.
A final batch of about 120 soldiers are expected to leave
Japan by the end of the month. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
