Polish zone in Iraq

Zones in Iraq as of 2003. Polish zone (South Central), in practice multinational under Polish command, marked in pink.

Zones in Iraq as of 2004. Polish zone (South Central), in practice multinational under Polish command, marked in pink.

Polish zone in Iraq or the South Central / South Center / Central South / Center South zone / sector was created in 2003 when Iraq was divided into four zones. The South Central zone (formerly the Upper South zone) covers the Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Karbala Governorate, Babil Governorate and the Wasit Governorate. The region had a population of about 5 millions spread over 65 632 km². The Najaf Governorate was passed back to American control in 2004, due to reduction in strength of the forces under Polish command; this reduced the zone to about 3 million of population spread over 28 655 km². Major cities in the Polish zone include Diwaniyah, Kut, Hillah, and Karbala and Najaf.

ZWD-3 command vehicle and a Scorpion-3 based on a Tarpan Honker in Iraq during the Second Persian Gulf War, 2004.

Multinational forces under Polish command (Multinational Division Central-South, MND-CS) includes or indcluded the contingents from the following countries: Republic of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Mongolia, Republic of Poland, Republic of Romania, Republic of El Salvador, Slovak Republic, Kingdom of Spain, Ukraine and the United States of America; the Lithuania, Ukrainian, Spanish and Slovakian ones had already withdrawn. Polish and multinational forces are increasingly involved with training the Iraqi Army.

Another Polish Scorpion-3 during the CIMIC patrol

The strength of the Polish forces have decreased from 2500 (2003) to 900 (2007); the Division numbers about 2,000 troops. Polish casualties number 25. Casualties of the entire division are 65.

See also

• Polish involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq

References

• Template:Polish