The United States and its allies have staged 22 air strikes on Islamic State targets since Friday, including four near Ramadi, the city taken by the militants this week, the US military said today.
Coalition forces also attacked five Islamic State sites in Syria yesterday and today, a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force said.
The strikes near Ramadi hit tactical units, armored vehicles and a fighting position in militant-controlled territory.
Earlier today Iraqi forces launched a counterattack on the so-called Islamic State in their first counterattack since the fall of the Anbar provincial capital a week ago.
The offensive targeted the Euphrates Valley town of Husaybah, an essential stepping stone for any assault on Ramadi.
The launch of offensive operations was confirmed by the leader of the main tribal force in the area.
A police spokesman said the operation involved local and federal police, the interior ministry's rapid intervention force, regular army troops, Popular Mobilisation (Hashed al-Shaabi) paramilitary forces and tribal fighters.
IS fighters seized Ramadi in a deadly three day-blitz last week and tried to use its momentum to gain more ground east of the city.
