The eastern borders of the Islamic State (ISIS) statelet are shrinking as the Iraqi army makes its push toward the city whose fall started the current crisis: Mosul.

The village of al-Nasr, located along the Tigris River south of Mosul, fell to Iraqi troops after days of fierce fighting earlier this week. The success shows that Iraqi security forces are making progress in their push towards the large northern city.

The operation was an early test for the Iraqi push towards Mosul. In an echo of the Anbar Awakening, the military is cooperating with local Sunni tribal fighters. The new approach ran into a notable setback, however, when Sunni tribal leader Sheikh Faris al-Sabawi was killed by an ISIS sniper entering the newly liberated village with his men.

Islamic State has responded by unleashing a wave of attacks on Iraqi security forces and allied Shiite militias.  Attacks throughout Iraq claimed over 25 lives over the weekend. In all they involved at least 10 suicide bombers.