Reports say Iraq’s Army has routed Sunni militants in a major offensive on the northern city of Tikrit.
It was reported by the state media that thousands of Iraqi troops backed by tanks and air power had attacked Tikrit from four directions, clearing Isis from the city and killing 60 militants, including some militant commanders.
A spokesman for the rebels confirmed heavy fighting but implied the attack had failed, saying they were pursuing what was left of the army offensive.
The rebels control large swathes of the north and west after lightning raids that captured the second city, Mosul.
The Iraqi soldiers are being supported in the offensive by allied Sunni tribesmen and Shia militias. Army spokesman Lt-Gen Sabah Fatlawi had warned Isis fighters they “now have two choices – flee or be killed”.
United States officials say American troops are not directly involved in the hostilities but the US confirmed that it is flying armed drones in Iraq to protect its personnel on the ground.
Some 300 US military advisers have been deployed to Iraq.
Police officials told AP that fighting to the south of the capital Baghdad left at least 20 Iraqi troops dead on Saturday, with dozens of insurgents also killed.
Another army spokesman told Agence France-Presse that Iraqi forces were also now in control of a key road from Baghdad to Samarra.
