The Fatah Coalition said it holds the United States fully responsible for the alleged Israeli aggression, "which we consider to be a declaration of war on Iraq and its people."

Iraqi security forces battled the last remaining pockets of Islamic State militants in Tikrit early Wednesday and were expected to gain full control of the city "within the coming hours," the country's interior minister said.

Possible signs emerged Tuesday of reprisal sectarian slaughter of Sunnis in Iraq as police said pro-government Shiite militiamen killed nearly four dozen detainees.