The Defense Agency is scheduled to start airlifting supplies into Iraq in the middle of this month, using Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport aircraft in Kuwait.

Initially, the aircraft were intended to fly between Kuwait and Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, Basra, Balad and Mosul. While there is strong demand from the U.S. occupation forces for materials to be transported into Baghdad, the security situation has been worsening, as shown by the Feb. 5 attack on Baghdad airport that killed one U.S. soldier.

The attack has prompted the Defense Agency to consider first starting the airlift into Basra, a city in southern Iraq where the security situation appears relatively stable while shelving the operations involving Baghdad, sources said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 14, 2004
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