Polish troops will not be taking part in any military operation against the Islamic State, Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has affirmed.
Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw, the minister stressed, however, that political support for a coalition against jihadists as well as humanitarian aid for Iraq and its army are subjects for debate.
Poland is among the ten countries which were invited by US President Barack Obama at the NATO summit in Wales to join a broad coalition aimed at the elimination of the militants of the Islamic State.
Siemoniak recalled that in the middle of last month C-130 Hercules transport aircraft took eight tonnes of aid to Iraq, including food products, tents, blankets, beds and sleeping bags.
On Friday, Germany announced a ban on the Islamic State, saying it aimed to prevent the militants from recruiting young jihadists in Germany, especially via the internet, or from using combat-hardened fighters returning to Europe to carry out attacks.
Coinciding with the launch of a broad U.S. campaign against the Sunni militants, which could include air strikes in Syria as well as Iraq, Germany introduced an immediate ban, declaring all Islamic State propaganda, symbols and activities illegal.
Dariusz Cisowski
