Isis militants have launched a huge counter-offensive in the key city of Ramadi days after government forces recaptured it from the jihadist group's control.

An unidentified source toldthe Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency the extremist group sent six “suicide vehicles” followed by fighters wearing explosive belts to an Iraqi compound in north Ramadi on Friday.

According to AFP, the fighters managed to take control of the base “when the army had to pull out because it suffered casualties” but Iraqi forces have since re-taken control, backed by an aerial coalition.

However, CNN has reported 10 vehicles packed with explosives attacked the base killing three Iraqi soldiers and wounding 17.

The attack is the biggest one launched by Isis against Iraqi forces since the recapture of Ramadi.

Spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad, Colonel Steve Warren, told Associated Press that majority of the attacks are on the outskirts of the city, and Iraqi government forces have “successfully repelled every attack” since they began.

He said there has been no evidence of Isis having enough “combat power to move Iraq off their positions”.

Fall of Ramadi Show all 17 1 /17 Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi A displaced Iraqi Sunni man pushes an elderly woman in a wheelchair on the outskirts of Baghdad. Reuters Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi An Iraqi family, who fled the city of Ramadi after it was seized by Islamic State (IS) group militants, gathers inside a tent at a camp housing displaced families. AFP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi. AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraqi fighters of the Shiite militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq (The League of the Righteous) stand guard outside their headquarters AFP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraqis fleeing from their hometown of Ramadi walk on a street near the Bzebiz bridge, 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad. AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraqi Sunni tribal leaders demand Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to send forces to protect their city and regain Ramadi shortly after Iraqi security forces withdraw from the city. AFP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Displaced Iraqis from Ramadi rest before crossing the Bzebiz bridge after spending the night walking towards Baghdad. AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Ramadi, after fighting on Friday, was one of the army’s few strongholds Reuters Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraqi security forces withdraw from the Anbar state capital, Ramadi, in defeat on Sunday, 17 May (AP) AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraqis fleeing from their hometown of Ramadi walk on a street near the Bzebiz bridge, 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi 130,000 remaining inhabitants of Ramadi, an overwhelmingly Sunni city, have fled the fighting (AP) AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Thousands of civilians fled the Isis advance in Ramadi AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Iraq security forces were seen fleeing from Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province AP Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Civilian belongings can be seen in an abandoned truck during fighting in Ramadi Reuters Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Isis led its renewed assault on Ramadi with suicide car bombs on Friday Reuters Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi The last remaining Iraqi security forces defending their headquarters against Isis in the eastern part of Ramadi on 14 May Reuters Fall of Ramadi Fall of Ramadi Civilians fled Ramadi as Isis advanced earlier in May. Reuters

A week ago, the Iraqi government announced it had successfully “liberated” the city of Ramadi, but local tribal leaders said this week that Isis still controls as much as 25 per cent of the city.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared 2016 will be the year “of the big and final victory” and vowed to “terminate” Isis’ presence in Iraq.