A commander of Islamic State and 70 other ISIL militants have been killed in US-led coalition strikes.

A US military spokesperson Friday said the coalition has carried out 20 strikes over the past four days. Maher al-Bilawi, commander of Islamic State fighters in Fallujah, was killed on Wednesday.

US spokesperson said the killing of Bilawi was a blow to ISIL militants but would not stop them. The strikes were supporting Iraqi forces in the recapture of Fallujah, which ISIL had taken control of in 2014.

The operation started Monday, and the first phase is nearly finished with the complete encirclement of the city. Hundreds of families have fled the city with little food.