Days into a military offensive to reclaim Tal Afar came a significant step forward, with troops breaching the city's outskirts in northwestern Iraq.
The city, around 150 kilometres east of the border with Syria, is one of a handful of IS strongholds left in Iraq.
It occupies a strategic position along the supply route between Mosul and Syria, and has long been a stronghold of the terrorist group IS, also known as ISIS.
Following the recapture of the country's second-largest city, Mosul, attention has turned to Tal Afar.
Iraq's Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, says progress is promising.
"The liberation of Tal Afar started last Sunday. Military operations are progressing in an excellent manner and our units are advancing, some of them entered the town (Tal Afar) from the east and south sides. There are signs of collapse in the enemy. The Iraqi army, federal police, counterterrorism forces and al Hashid Shaabi (paramilitary forces) are involved in the battles currently taking place."
An operational map published by Iraq's military appears to show three-quarters of Tal Afar still under militant control, including the Ottoman-era citadel in the city's centre.
The Iraqi army, air force, federal police, the US-trained Counter Terrorism Service and units from the Shi'ite Popular Mobilisation Forces are all taking part in the assault.
IS leaders fled Mosul as fighting intensified, and the whereabouts of its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, are unknown.
Arriving in Iraq, US Defence Secretary James Mattis was optimistic.
"We're dedicated from the American side to the strategic framework agreement, which means that we will continue standing by the Iraqi people and their military, make for a brighter future, maintain the stability that will have been earned at a very, very high price. It's not over yet, there's hard fighting ahead."
Mr Mattis met President al-Abadi and defence officials to discuss what role US forces will play after the militants have been forced out.
US officials have expressed concern over the ability of local forces to hold territory, citing pockets of resistance in west Mosul.
There are also signs of IS weakening in Syria, where US-supported Kurdish and Arab forces have captured territory in the north and are continuing their assault on the city of Raqqa.
Despite the success, aid groups have fears for the safety of civilians caught in the conflict, with one US official putting the number of those remaining in Tal Afar at beween 10,000 and 20,000.
An additional 20,000 people may remain in surrounding areas, but humanitarian agencies say this is unconfirmed as they haven't had access to the area since 2014.
The United Nations says around 30,000 people have fled Tal Afar since April, with many suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.
Some also had wounds from sniper fire and exploding mines.
Andrej Mahecic from the U-N's Refugee Agency, says innocent people are being deliberately put in danger.
"We fear that Iraqi civilians are likely to be held as human shields again and that attempts to flee could result in executions and shootings. We call on all parties to the conflict to allow civilians to leave the conflict area and to access safety. We are also concerned about reports that in some instances displaced Iraqi families from Tal Afar are being denied access to safety in locations that have capacity to absorb them."
A United Nations report has revealed thousands of women and girls have been subjected to rape, sexual abuse, slavery and forced religious conversion.
