The Iraqi cities of Samarra and Fallujah have been counting the human cost of what has been described as one of largest security force offensives since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
At least 125 people died in Samarra in the past two days.
American and Iraqi forces say they have taken control of most of Samarra.
While they admit to encountering what they describe as pockets of resistance, they say they now control about 70% of the city.
US forces have also been carrying out air strikes on the city of Fallujah.
Earlier they launched what they called a 'precision strike' on a building in the rebel-held city of Fallujah where 15 to 20 guerrillas were said to be training for attacks.
The military in a statement said intelligence sources indicated that anti-Iraqi forces were at this position to conduct training in order to disrupt the efforts of local Iraqi security forces, as well as to harass the local populace.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi Islamist group has displayed a video on a website showing an Iraqi contractor being beheaded. The video claimed the Iraqi was working for American forces in the country.
