The U.S. military has almost terminated its Operation Tomodachi relief activities in areas hit by the March 11 quake-tsunami disaster, while it will continue to airlift personnel and supplies as needed, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Sunday. It also pulled out of the joint Japan-U.S. coordination center set up at the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' joint task force command in Sendai and virtually closed it by leaving only one person behind, the ministry said.

At its peak, about 16,000 U.S. military personnel engaged in the operation launched shortly after the disaster struck areas centering on northeastern Japan, as well as some 15 ships including a nuclear- powered aircraft carrier and about 140 aircraft. They transported massive amounts of food and water to disaster areas, and helped restore Sendai airport and remove rubble.