Fifty militants were killed in central Baghad in clashes between gunmen and US and Iraqi forces today, a Defence Ministry official said.
Major General Ibrahim Shakir said 21 militants were also arrested in the operation in Haifa Street, a Sunni Arab insurgent stronghold, where violence has claimed the lives of 100 people since Saturday.
A spokesman for the US military said it had no "battle assessment" on Haifa Street.
President Bush told US politicians yesterday he has decided to send about 20,000 more troops to Iraq in a plan to be announced tomorrow. The White House said Mr Bush would address Americans on his long-delayed new Iraq plan tomorrow night.
Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith, who a month ago said he could no longer support the war, was among senators who attended a White House meeting to discuss the president's emerging strategy for Iraq.
Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith
"It was clear to me that a decision has been made for a surge of, I suppose, 20,000 additional troops," Senator Smith said.
The senator said Mr Bush told him and several other senators that the plan for the additional troops had originated with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Mr Maliki had made commitments that the Iraqi government and military would take steps to strengthen security in exchange for more US troops, Senator Smith said.
Seeking to salvage the US mission in an unpopular war that has lasted nearly four years, Mr Bush's new plan is also expected to include setting "benchmarks" for the Iraqi government to meet aimed at easing sectarian violence and stabilising the country.
It is also expected to contain a jobs programme likely to cost upwards of $1 billion with the goal of putting Iraqis back to work.
But the new Democratic leadership in Congress says sending more troops to Iraq is an escalation and that it is time to start bringing forces home.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said Democrats would not cut off funding for US troops but would raise tough questions.