In the mid-19th century, under Ottoman rule, Polish physician and émigré activist Stanisław Drozdowski took part in eradicating the plague epidemic in Baghdad for which he was awarded the title of Pasha of Baghdad.

At the time, several thousand Poles were in Iraq working on construction projects, given them a greater ability to avoid detection by Iraqi intelligence.

Poland's assistance to the U.S. during the Persian Gulf War, which was revealed in 1995, led to closer U.S.-Poland relations.

[4][5] In 2003, Poland participated in the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, sending about 200 special forces initially.

[6] Within Poland, there was some disappointment over a sense "that Poland derived too little benefit from its deployment: its efforts to end the visa requirement for the U.S. were rebuffed, and its military complained that it did not get as much financial assistance as it had expected.