A senior commander in the Iraqi army claims his forces have killed hundreds of Isis militants and re-taken swathes of territory in Anbar province, where the extremist group launched a counter-offensive in recent weeks.

Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al Shammari told Sky News his forces had killed “more than 250 terrorists in the past few days”.

He said this had been achieved with assistance from the Iraqi air force, military helicopters and coalition airstrikes. "The coalition strikes provided cover for our troops to push forward.”

Isis captured large parts of the capital Ramadi last week and still controls most of the province. Militants have launched suicide attacks targeting government buildings and checkpoints and are responding fiercely to Iraqi attacks with heavy artillery.

A military official said thousands of police officers and residents who fled Ramadi are now returning back to their homes as more reinforcements arrive, according to the Washington Post.

Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khalaf Saeed, acting head of Anbar Operations Command, said 5,000 local police officers – almost the entire force – panicked at news of Isis’ approach and deserted their posts, leaving just 1,000 security forces to protect the city.

In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Show all 16 1 /16 In pictures: Fight for Tikrit In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Shiite fighters pose in front of a mural depicting the emblem of the Islamic State group outside one of the presidential palaces in Tikrit, on April 1, 2015 Getty Images In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tours the city of Tikrit after it was retaken by the security forces in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 1 2015 AP In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit An Iraqi flag waves over the Tigris River om April 1 2015 AP In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi security forces playing football in Tikrit after their country declared a 'magnificent victory' over the Islamic State group in the city on April 1 2015 Reuters In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit A member of the security forces holds Iraq’s national flag in front of a painted Isis emblem Getty Images In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi security forces arrest a member of the Islamic State in Tikrit on April 1, 2015 Reuters In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit A member from the Iraqi security forces beats an Isis insurgent, who was captured in Tikrit Reuters In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Shiite fighters from the Popular Mobilisation units celebrate in front of the the provincial council building inside the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit on March 31, 2015 Getty Images In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi soldiers stand on a damaged tank during fighting against IS militants near Tikrit Corbis In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Fighters of Iraqi Shiite militias who volunteered to support the Iraqi forces make their way towards Daquq town near Tikrit Corbis In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi security forces and Shia fighters chant slogans as they gather at Udhaim dam, north of Baghdad, where they have been massing in preparation for an attack on Isis along the Tigris River Reuters In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Pro-government volunteer Shia fighters in Awaynat near Tikrit AFP/Getty In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Iraqi government forces and allied militias firing weaponry from a position in the northern part of Diyala AFP In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit A volunteer in the Iraqi Shiite Badr Army militia taking up position outside Tikrit Corbis In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Volunteers of the Iraqi Shiite Badr Army militia patrol an area at eastern Tikrit city Corbis In pictures: Fight for Tikrit Fight for Tikrit Members of the Iraqi security forces coming from the city of Samarra drive towards al-Dawr south of Tikrit to launch an assault against the Islamic State AFP/Getty

Mr Saeed said about 2,500 police officers had now returned to Ramadi as the fear engulfing the area subsided.

Over 100,000 displaced citizens fled Isis’ advance to try and find safety within the last 10 days. Many have been forced to cross back into Anbar after being turned away from Baghdad for not having a sponsor in the city.

Displaced Iraqis who were forced to flee their hometown ahead of gains made by Islamic State (IS) militants in Ramadi city western Iraqi, cross the Bzebiz bridge on the Euphrates River on their way to Baghdad (EPA)

Thousands remain trapped in camps inside Anbar province as the fighting continues, where only one hospital is still under Government control and stretched to breaking point.