The U.S. general leading the coalition fighting the Islamic State says the military offensive to liberate the Islamic State stronghold in Raqqa, Syria will begin soon, so as not to allow Islamic State fighters fleeing Mosul in Iraq a “convenient place” to go.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said on Wednesday that the plan from the beginning was to launch assaults against the de facto capitals in Syria and Iraq nearly simultaneously to maximize pressure on the terrorist group.