Japan withdrew its ground troops from Iraq in mid-July but had promised to expand its Kuwait-based air operations to ferry U.N. and coalition personnel and supplies to Iraq.

A C-130 military transport plane carried personnel from multinational forces to Baghdad from Kuwait, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

About 200 Japanese troops and three transport planes are based in Kuwait to carry out transport missions to Iraq.

Officials have said Tokyo is open to sending peacekeeping troops back to Iraq, but only if the security situation improves there.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 5, 2006
(C) All rights reserved