All networks reported that Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato told the press this morning that the Japanese government decided during a meeting of the National Security Council this morning to send three SDF transport aircraft to Afghanistan to evacuate Japanese nationals working at international organizations and local hires of the Japanese Embassy in Kabul. Kato reportedly said: “We will send C-130 transport aircraft and SDF troops and begin the airlift as soon as coordination is complete.” According to the reports, a C2 transport plane will leave for Afghanistan early this evening, and two C-130 transport planes will leave for the nation tomorrow.