March 29, 2026

It was revealed on March 29 that F-16 fighter jets assigned to the U.S. Misawa Air Base (Aomori’s Misawa City) departed for the Middle East. It is likely that these F-16s will participate in the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The F-16 is tasked to perform suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions aimed at destroying and neutralizing the enemy’s air defense network, including radar and communication systems, prior to conducting air strikes in enemy territory.

The F-16s assigned to the Aomori base constitute a part of the U.S. military Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) which conducts military operations on a global scale. The fighters participated in the 2003 Iraq War and the preceding “air surveillance” operation in Iraq.

The U.S. military has sent its troops from U.S. bases in Yokosuka, Atsugi, Iwakuni, Sasebo, Okinawa, and Misawa to the war on Iran. Japan has become a major foothold for the unlawful U.S.-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Past related article:
> Tamura: Gov’t should ban use of US bases in Japan for US-Israeli war on Iran [March 15 & 17, 2026]