Members of the Iraqi Army and allied Shiite militias have posed for gruesome photographs with the bloodied remains of an Islamic State fighter . Celebrating with their assault rifles in the air , the black-clad Shiite militants are seen posing with the jihadi 's corpse at the frontline of fighting close to the central Iraqi city of Tikrit . Standing over the battered corpse in the back of a blue pick-up truck , the Iran-backed militias stand alongside members of the Iraqi Army , which launched a large-scale offensive to recapture the city - best known as the home town of late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein - earlier this month . The gruesome images emerged as the US-led coalition begun surveillance flights over ISIS-held Tikrit - offering intelligence to the Iraqi forces trying to re-take it , according to an official . Scroll down for video . Gruesome : Celebrating with their assault rifles in the air , the black-clad Shiite militants are seen posing with the jihadi 's corpse at the frontline of fighting close to the central Iraqi city of Tikrit . Celebration : Standing over the Islamic State fighter 's battered corpse in the back of a blue pick-up truck , the Iran-backed militias stand alongside members of the Iraqi Army . According to media representatives in Tikrit , the Shiite militias chanted slogans as they stood over the ISIS fighters body in the back of the pick-up truck . The photographs emerged as it was revealed the US-led coalition would begin offering air support to the Iraqi Army and their allied Iran-supported Shiite militias at the request of Iraq 's government . The unnamed official refused to say whether the air support extended to airstrikes and bombing raids on Islamic State targets in central Iraq . The U.S. has previously said the Iraqi government did not ask them to participate in the campaign . This morning the foreign ministers of Syria and Iraq met in the Syrian capital Damascus to discuss ways to tackle militant groups operating in their countries . Iraq also called for greater international cooperation to combat the violence , Syrian state TV said . Removal : Members of the Iraqi security forces take the dead body of an Islamic State fighter for burial after overnight clashes in Tikrit , 80 miles north of the capital Baghdad . Taken away : According to media representatives in Tikrit , the Shiite militias chanted slogans as they stood over the ISIS fighters body in the back of the pick-up truck . Iraq 's Shiite-led government in Baghdad , together with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah , have been important allies for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad . Shiite militias have fought on Assad 's side against the insurgency spearheaded by Sunni Islamists . Iraq 's armed forces are also the main partner on the ground for a U.S.-led coalition bombing Islamic State militants in Iraq but Washington and other Western governments have dismissed the idea of cooperating directly with Syria in the same fight . This morning 's high-level discussions 'focused on the fight against terrorism and common dangers that threaten our countries , ' Syrian state television said , citing a joint news conference by the foreign ministers at Damascus airport . It did not specify which groups the discussions were referring to . Talks : This morning the foreign minister of Syria , Walid al-Moallem ( left ) , and the foreign minister of Iraq , Ibrahim al-Jaafari ( right ) , met in the Syrian capital of Damascus to discuss ways to tackle militant groups . United : This morning 's high-level discussions between the foreign ministers of Syria and Iraq 'focused on the fight against terrorism and common dangers that threaten our countries , ' Syrian state television said . Iraq has acted as a go-between for information about the U.S.-led strikes on ISIS in both countries . Iraq 's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari is also due to meet Assad himself , Jaafari 's office said today . Jaafari 's visit comes ahead of an Arab League meeting in Egypt scheduled for the weekend . Syria 's seat has been left vacant since its membership was suspended in November 2011 after the government 's crackdown on protests . 'Terrorism is not just a danger that faces both countries but one that will affect all countries if there is not cooperation , ' Jaafari said , according to Syria 's state news channel . His Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem said the two countries 'stand in the same trench against terrorism , ' state news agency SANA said . In September Iraq 's national security adviser briefed Assad on efforts to counter Islamic State , in the first such meeting since the United States launched air strikes on the group in Iraq . Territory held by Islamic State in Syria includes most of Deir al-Zor province , which borders Iraq .
Shiite militias celebrated jihadi 's death by waving assault rifles in the air . Posed with the ISIS militant 's bloodied corpse in the back of a pick-up . Members of the Iraqi Army were seen standing next to the Shiite troops . ISIS fighter 's battered body was eventually taken away to be buried . Images emerged as US-led coalition begun surveillance flights over Tikrit . Aircraft will be offering intelligence to Iraqi forces trying to re-take the city . WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT .