The US and its allies conducted 15 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria during the past 24 hours, a US military statement said on Saturday.

It said Isis targets near various Iraqi cities, including Mosul and Baiji, were hit in nine air attacks during the 24 hours to Saturday morning. In Syria, five air strikes were carried out near the northern border town of Kobani and one near Hasakah, the statement said.

Strikes have been ongoing in Iraq since 8 August and Syria since 23 September. More than 2,000 have been carried out, hindering but not defeating Isis fighters who last year took control of large areas of both countries and have since executed a number of foreign hostages.

Shia paramilitaries started leaving Tikrit on Saturday following a government deal after locals complained that some fighters had spent several days looting the Sunni city after helping retake it from Isis.

“As of this afternoon, the (paramilitaries) started to leave the city towards the surrounding areas outside,” said Ahmed al-Kraim, the head of the council of Tikrit and its province, Salahuddin. “The looting and vandalism against residents’ properties stopped today and things are getting better.”

The decision for the paramilitaries to exit came after a meeting between Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, a Shia Islamist, and officials from Salahuddin province. Tikrit was retaken from Isis militants on Wednesday.

In the US this week, two women in New York and one in Philadelphia were arrested on terrorism charges which authorities said involved attempts to join or be inspired by Isis.

A United Nations report said that under Isis, Syria and Iraq had become “finishing schools” for foreign extremists.