BEIRUT: Gunmen believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria carried out a deadly attack on truffle hunters in the desert on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 18 persons, a war monitor reported.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that more than 50 people were still missing following the assault, which also involved intense clashes with pro-government forces.
The attack, suspected to be carried out by IS militants, targeted a group of truffle hunters using machine guns, leading to heavy casualties. The clashes resulted in the destruction of approximately a dozen vehicles, the Britain-based monitoring group reported.
Attacks on Truffle Hunters in Syria
The Syrian desert, particularly the vast northern region known as the Badia, is renowned for producing high-quality truffles. Despite official warnings and the presence of landmines, foragers venture into the desert between February and April each year to harvest the delicacies, which are highly valued in the country.
This incident marks another tragic episode in the perilous pursuit of truffles in the region. Just last month, a blast from an IS-laid landmine killed 14 people engaged in truffle hunting, state media reported.
Although IS lost its territorial control in Syria in March 2019 following a military campaign, remnants of the group continue to operate in the desert, launching deadly attacks on civilians and security forces. These attacks have not only targeted Syrian government troops but have also extended into neighbouring Iraq.
