In the spotlight: The Polish military mission in Iraq

Poland sent troops to Iraq on March 20, 2003, as part of the US-led Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September of that year the Polish army began its stabilization mission in the so-called South Central zone - a 65,632 sqm area south of Baghdad  and home to five million people.

As part of the mission, Poles took command over the Multinational Division Central-South (MND-CS), headquartered first in CampBabylon and then in CampEcho near the city of Diwaniyah. The Poles formed the largest part of the division with over 2,200 troops, out of a total of around 9,000. The division has assisted in rebuilding the area's local government, security forces and economy. It has also provided humanitarian aid in the zone.

Control over the South Central Zone has gradually been ceded to the US army.

Local Iraqis are said to have a good opinion of the Polish mission in Iraq. "You brought back the honor and dignity to our lives. I promise that a monument will be erected in Diwaniyah to commemorate your deeds," said Abdul Karim, the head of the local organization for the protection of children in Diwaniyah, during a meeting with Polish soldiers in September.

Over the past five years about 30 Poles have lost their lives in Iraq, including over 20 soldiers, several security guards, two journalists and an officer from the Government Protection Bureau.

As WBJ went to press around 600 Polish soldiers were still posted in Iraq.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons