The tension in the region has intensified due to an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah it supports, Polish state news agency PAP has reported.
The situation has been further exacerbated by ongoing military operations by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip since October last year, following an attack by Hamas on October 7 in which approximately 1,200 people in Israel were killed and over 240 taken hostage. Hamas, also backed by Iran, has been a significant player in the strife.
Recent violent events include a rocket attack by Hezbollah on July 27, targeting the Israeli border town of Madjal Shams, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers at a soccer field.
In response, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) carried out a retaliatory strike in Beirut, killing Hezbollah's military wing operational commander Fuad Shukr, responsible for the deaths in Madjal Shams and numerous other Israeli civilian casualties, according to the IDF.
Further escalation was marked by an attack last Wednesday in Tehran, which resulted in the death of Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh, who had traveled from Qatar, where he had lived for many years, to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president.
Poland's military presence in the Middle East includes two contingents: in Lebanon and Iraq. In Lebanon, Polish soldiers are part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, while in Iraq, they are involved with the Global Coalition Against ISIS, whose duties include training of Iraqi soldiers.
On the night of Monday to Tuesday, a base housing U.S. air forces in Iraq's western Anbar province, which also hosts international military contingents including Polish forces, was attacked.
However, no Polish soldiers or civilian workers were in the area at the time, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Photo: P. Chmielewski/PR
The Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said on Tuesday that, despite rising tensions, the Polish military contingents in Lebanon and Iraq continued to carry out their operational responsibilities.
In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Operational Command also emphasized the ongoing training in emergency response procedures, a standard part of all Polish soldiers' training on foreign missions.
Poland's contingent in Lebanon comprises up to 250 soldiers and staff, cooperating with forces from Ireland, Malta and Hungary to monitor the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, the so-called Blue Line, and protect civilians.
Up to 350 Polish soldiers are currently stationed in Iraq. This includes training teams and engineering units, focused on supporting Iraqi forces to regain their ability to ensure regional security independently, targeting the terrorist Islamic State group.
The situation remains under constant surveillance by Polish military authorities, as well as NATO and the United Nations, with current analyses suggesting that the situation is within acceptable risk limits and does not require the implementation of extraordinary measures.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR/PAP
