Japan has allowed its Air Self- Defense Force (ASDF) to access all 24 major airports in Iraq, up from the current 13 in transport operations, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Thursday.

The decision to expand ASDF's flight destinations in Iraq was made last month, the report said. Before that, the ASDF were allowed to fly to and from 13 airports in Iraq, including Baghdad, Balad, Basra, Mosul and Taril.

The change of mission aims to show "Japan's intention to continue its participation in the international efforts for Iraq reconstruction," the report said.

With three C-130 transport planes, around 200 ASDF personnel has been involved in the transportation of personnel and supplies for the SDF and multinational forces in Iraq. The ASDF is based at Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait.

Japan has also stationed some 600 ground troops in Samawah in southern Iraq for a non-combat reconstruction mission since early 2004.

On Dec. 8, 2005, Japan decided to extend the ground troop deployment for one year. Under the plan, the troops could pull out depending on a series of conditions, including Iraq's political and reconstruction process and local security situation.

Source: Xinhua