Poland Begins Evacuation of Its Contingent in the Middle East

Poland has started evacuating its military contingent from Iraq due to the war in the Middle East.

Slawa TV reported on this, citing Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

As of March 20, most of the personnel have already left the combat zone or are on their way home, while some units are currently stationed in Jordan.

The decision to redeploy was made after analyzing operational conditions and potential threats in the region in coordination with NATO allies. The Minister stated that some troops have already been successfully evacuated, and the safety of personnel remains the priority of the operation.

Krakowskie Balice – nasi żołnierze wracają z PKW Irak. Dobrze Was widzieć w domu! 🇵🇱
Dziękuję za Waszą misję! pic.twitter.com/hRqB6b0dgZ

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) March 20, 2026

Prior to the escalation, up to 350 Polish troops were stationed in Iraq as part of the international coalition. The contingent’s main tasks were combating the Islamic State terrorist group and training local security forces.

According to the Polish command, the troops are leaving the region due to the impossibility of continuing stable operations amid constant shelling.

Along with Poland, other NATO countries have also announced the suspension of training missions and the withdrawal of approximately 600 personnel.