A member of Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Forces flags victory sign during clashes against the Islamic State militants in Tal Afar, Iraq August 26, 2017.(REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani)

The advancement, just days into an assault on the strategic town, comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the jihadists in Mosul, where ISIS declared its “caliphate” in 2014.

Operation Commander General Abdulamir Yarallah said in a statement on Saturday that units of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) has seized Citadel and Basatin districts and three other districts in Tal Afar and Al-Talia.