Poland Declines Troops for US Iran Operations

Warsaw, Poland - Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Tuesday that Poland will not deploy troops to the Middle East to support United States military operations against Iran, emphasizing that the conflict does not pose a direct threat to national security. Speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting, Tusk stated that Warsaw's land, air and naval forces would remain focused on regional priorities, including the security of the Baltic Sea and the ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.

The decision comes amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, where the United States and Israel have conducted airstrikes on Iranian targets since February 28. Now in its third week, the conflict has prompted Iranian retaliation, including attacks on Israeli and Gulf state sites, U.S. military bases and civilian areas. Tehran has also targeted merchant ships, effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman that carries about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. The disruption has driven sharp increases in worldwide oil prices, leading several governments to tap emergency reserves to mitigate economic fallout.