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Since the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq]], the town has had the fewest problems with Coalition forces, with insurgent activity practically non-existent.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
Elements of the [[U.S. 82nd Airborne Division]] and 1-41 Infantry, 1st Armored Division, took the town in the [[Battle of Samawah (2003)|Battle of Samawah]], a fierce running battle with emplaced [[Fedayeen]] forces in the days after the initial invasion. After the initial combat phase ended in May 2003, the 82nd was relieved by U.S. Marines from [[5th Marine (United States) Regiment|RCT-5]], [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]]. Control of the city was handed over to [[Royal Netherlands Army|Dutch forces]] in August 2003, <!-- Dutch left at some point --> to the British Army ([[1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards]]) in
[[Deployment of Japanese troops to Iraq|Japan Self-Defense Forces]], stationed in Samawah since January 2004, left in 2006.<ref name="mil">[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060622_5488.html DefenseLink News Article: Coalition Troops to Leave Muthanna Province in Iraq<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> British and Australian troops departed, making Samawah's entire province the first to be responsible for its own security, dubbed in Iraqi parlance the first "green province", meaning that it is fully independent.<ref name="mil" />
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