Mosul is the second city to be taken over by rebels this year, after Fallujah.

Rebels suspected to be members of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, have taken over the city of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, Al-Jazeera reports.

The gunmen thus freed about 2,400 prisoners at a prison in the city, the capital of Nineveh.

They had taken over government buildings, banks, and other parts of the city after combats with Iraqi security officials.

Mosul is the second city to be taken over by rebels this year, after Fallujah.

Iraq has known no peace since the U.S. invasion of the country to oust its former dictator, Saddam Hussein.

Hundreds of thousands have been killed in almost daily violent killings and bombings in the country.