US combat forces will vacate all Iraqi cities on schedule by the end of this month, the commander of US forces in Iraq told Reuters Tuesday, including the still violent insurgent holdout of Mosul.

US combat troops are scheduled to leave Iraq's towns and cities by June 30 and redeploy to bases outside, according to a security pact that took effect in January.

But some US and Iraqi officials had suggested this might have to be delayed for Mosul, which is still plagued by al Qaeda and other insurgent groups, who stage frequent attacks.

Asked whether US combat forces were on track for a total pullout from all cities, including Mosul, Army General Ray Odierno said: "We are. We have done a joint assessment ... We have finalized that."

"We will come out of the cities. We will provide some trainers and advisers, LNOs (liason officers) ... inside of Mosul ... but that'll be it," he said in an interview.

Odierno had previously not ruled out staying on in Mosul if the Iraqi government requested help to fight insurgents.