U.S. hails Japan's move to extend airlift operations in Iraq

The United States welcomed Japan's decision Friday on a bill to extend for two years the Air Self-Defense Force deployment in Iraq to provide airlift support to U.N. and multinational forces, the State Department said.

''The Japanese forces have been very important in providing logistical and air support into Iraq...and we very much appreciate the fact that that effort is being renewed,'' spokesman Sean McCormack said in a news briefing.

Japan is among the staunchest supporters of the United States, one of its closest allies, in the war in Iraq, sending ground troops on an aid mission in southern Iraq and air troops to operate between Kuwait and Iraq.

Amid withdrawals by many other countries that have sent forces to Iraq, Tokyo pulled the ground troops out last summer but has since expanded the air operations, which started in March 2004.