US commander: Mosul and Raqqa should be retaken in 6 months
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — 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 U.S. commander in Iraq.
On a tour north of Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said “within the next six months I think we’ll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude.”
Townsend also said he expected the fight for Mosul’s western half to begin in days.
Iraqi forces have retaken about half of Mosul — the country’s second largest city — since the operation was officially launched in October, following more than two years of coalition-led anti-IS operations around Iraq clearing supply lines and partially isolating the city. Last month Iraqi forces declared Mosul’s east “fully liberated” and have since largely paused the fight.