Iraqi missile strikes on the city of Ramadi killed 25 militants Tuesday.

Iraqi missile strikes on the city of Ramadi killed 25 militants Tuesday, the defense ministry spokesman said.

Iraqi forces targeted militants with "missile strikes, resulting in the killing of 25," Staff Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Askari told media outlets.

Parts of Ramadi and all of Fallujah were lost by government forces last week, the first time militants have exercised such open control in major cities since the height of the insurgency that followed the 2003 US-led invasion.

Security forces and tribesmen failed to retake south Ramadi from Al-Qaeda-linked militants in an overnight attack, police said.

Four civilians were killed and 14 wounded in the fighting, Dr Ahmed Abdul Salam of Ramadi hospital said.

No figures for any casualties in the ranks of either the army or the militants are so far available.