Poland evacuates military contingent from Iraq citing deteriorating Middle East security

Poland has evacuated its military contingent from Iraq, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced on Day 21. 'Due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region, following an analysis of operational conditions and potential threats, a decision was made to relocate the Polish Military Contingent from Iraq,' the minister wrote on X. Poland had maintained troops in Iraq as part of the NATO and coalition presence. The evacuation reflects growing concern among NATO partners that Iraq-based Western forces are at heightened risk from Iran-aligned groups — particularly the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi) which have launched rockets at US and coalition bases throughout the war. PMF-linked groups previously attacked US forces in Iraq and Syria repeatedly in 2023-2024. Poland's withdrawal is part of a broader pattern: multiple US and coalition partners are reassessing their Iraq presence as the Iran war raises the threat level for Western forces across the region. The withdrawal reduces NATO's footprint in Iraq and its ability to use Iraqi territory as a logistics and staging base.