Operation New Hope was a military offensive with joint US and Iraqi participation that began on 21 February 2009. The operation’s objective was to degrade Al-Qaeda in Iraq’s capabilities in Mosul, the capital of the northern province of Ninewah. It also intended to follow up on arrest warrants, carry out search-and-raid operations in parts of Mosul, and reinforce the presence of security forces. In the first evening hours of the offensive, 84 suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism.