A court in Japan has banned night flights by Japan’s Self-Defense Forces at a base shared by the US and Japanese militaries.

The judge didn’t ban flights by US forces at the Atsugi base near Tokyo, saying he couldn’t halt US flights under Japanese law.

But he did order Japan’s government to pay about $70 million dollars in damages to the plaintiffs.

About 7,000 locals filed suit with Japan’s government, claiming noise from the base was harming their health.

The judge upheld their claim and for the first time in Japan banned military flights.

But the plaintiffs argue US planes are responsible for the noise.

They say they may appeal the verdict with a higher court.

The US has numerous bases in Japan as part of the military alliance between the two countries.

But it faces opposition in some areas where bases are located in densely populated districts.