Japan’s top government spokesperson says the government will continue to make every effort to protect Japanese nationals abroad.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa spoke to reporters after an extraordinary session of the Cabinet on Thursday.
His comment came after two Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft departed in preparation for the possible evacuation of Japanese nationals and others from Lebanon.
Hayashi said Tokyo has not received any reports of Japanese nationals being injured or killed.
But Hayashi expressed grave concerns about the worsening situation in the Middle East, including Iran’s attack on Israel. He described the escalation as totally unacceptable and said Japan strongly condemns it.
Hayashi stressed the need for the international community, including the Group of Seven nations, to call on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint and de-escalate in a bid to avoid a full-blown regional conflict.