Reuters, Feb. 8, 2017 – The top U.S. commander in Iraq believes U.S.-backed forces will recapture Islamic State’s two major strongholds — the cities of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq — within the next six months, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend was quoted telling the Associated Press that “within the next six months I think we’ll see both (the Mosul and Raqqa campaigns) conclude.”

Townsend’s spokesman, Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, confirmed the remarks to Reuters.