US commander: Mosul, Raqqa should be retaken in 6 months

Forces fighting the Islamic State group should be able to retake the IS-held cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria within the next six months, according to the top US commander in Iraq.

On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, US Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend says “within the next six months I think we’ll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude.”

Townsend, who heads the US-led coalition against IS, says Iraq’s military is still in the process of putting forces into place ahead of the push into western Mosul, but predicts operations would begin “in the next few days.”

Iraqi forces declared Mosul’s east “fully liberated” in January after launching the operation to retake the city in October.

— AP