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The United States is closely monitoring Iraqi forces in Tikrit amid allegations of human rights abuses committed by Baghdad's troops and allied fighters in an assault to retake the city, a U.S. military official said Thursday, AFP reported.

It was "unclear" if executions and other alleged atrocities had taken place, the senior military official told reporters, but "that's exactly what we're going to be watching" for as Iraqi forces move to secure Tikrit.

Iraqi troops backed by paramilitary groups and U.S.-led airstrikes took back Tikrit from ISIS last week.

Amnesty International said Thursday it was investigating reports of serious rights violations during the Tikrit offensive, including allegations of executions, abductions and the burning and looting of homes.

The Shiite-led government in Baghdad will need to fulfill its promises to turn the city over to police, to respect the rights of Sunnis in the area and to deliver prompt humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, the official said.

"We're watching them very carefully, once the city is completely under control of the central government, whether the central government lives up to its commitment," the official said.

The United States agreed to provide air power to back up the assault on ISIS in Tikrit after the Iraqi government assured Washington it had full control over all forces involved in the operation. That required some Shiite militias with ties to Iran to pull back from attacks on the Tikrit town center.

The decision to provide U.S.-led air raids demonstrated Washington's support for the Iraqi government, the military official said.

But the Iraqis "need to understand we will hold them accountable for the aftermath of the Tikrit operation," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.