Poland ready to send four F-16 fighter jets to support military campaign against Daesh

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World Defense & Security News - Poland
 
 
Poland ready to send four F-16 fighter jets to support military campaign against Daesh
 
According to Radio Poland, Poland is ready to send four F-16 fighter planes to patrol over Syria, a senior security official has said. "There is such a declaration on our part - that we are ready to participate in monitoring patrols and we have said four of our planes are available," Pawel Soloch, the head of Poland’s National Security Bureau, told the Polish public broadcaster on Monday.
     
Poland ready to send four F 16 fighter jets support military campaign against Daes 640 001A Polish Air Force F-16D Block 52+ fighter jet
     
Soloch added that "for the time being there is no question of sending [Polish] troops" to Syria. Soloch said there was no “barter” deal to send Polish F-16s to patrol over Syria in exchange for NATO beefing up its eastern flank.

But he added that Polish President Andrzej Duda had spoken about Poland’s involvement in international measures against the so-called Islamic State as "an expression of solidarity with the rest of our allies." "We expect the same solidarity on eastern issues,” Soloch added, referring to Poland’s calls for a beefed-up NATO presence on the eastern flank of the military alliance.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the army loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting several opposition factions and terrorist organizations, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

The Polish Air Force currently operates 36 F-16C Block 52+ and 12 F-16D Block 52 + fighter aircraft.