On Saturday, the Iraqi government backed Washington in its denials that an American airstrike killed pro-government forces near Tikrit. U.S. air forces joined the battle on Wednesday after Baghdad requested the help. Due to the long history of conflict between U.S. forces and Shi’ite militias, the U.S. had kept out of the fight.

An anonymous officer warned that the city is heavily booby-trapped and will cost many lives to re-take, which may be why Iraqi forces remain sluggish despite what has been described as “carpet bombing” by the Coalition.

At least 66 people were killed, and another 12 were wounded.

Street fighting in Tikrit left four soldiers dead and 11 wounded. Two soldiers were shot dead by snipers. A bomb wounded a cameraman.

A dead body was found in Kirkuk.

In Ramadi, forty militants were killed.

Fifteen militants were killed in Sinjar.

In Mosul, unidentified gunmen killed a militant leader, his driver, and two guards.