On Wednesday, 18 people, mostly civilians, were killed in an attack attributed to ISIS in eastern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory confirmed that “18 individuals, including four members of the National Defence Forces, were killed, 16 were injured, and more than 50 went missing following an assault by gunmen, believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells, in the Kebajeb desert area of southern Deir Ezzor.
The attackers surrounded them in the area while they were collecting truffles and targeted them with machine guns,” as reported by AFP.
The Observatory also noted that about ten vehicles were set ablaze during the intense clashes that ensued between the jihadists and pro-regime fighters.
Despite targeted strikes against its leaders, movements, and locations, ISIS remains capable of launching attacks and carrying out sporadic assaults, particularly in eastern and northeastern Syria, as well as in the vast expanse of the Syrian desert.
The group takes advantage of the local population’s engagement in truffle gathering, a lucrative activity given the high quality of truffles found in Syria, to launch attacks that include shootings and executions. These attacks have resulted in dozens of deaths over the past year.
Despite the risks and warnings from security authorities, residents continue to gather truffles due to their high selling price, which explains the activity’s popularity amidst the challenging economic conditions in Syria after 13 years of war.
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a complex and deadly conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over half a million people, extensive destruction of infrastructure, and the displacement and migration of more than half of the country’s population both internally and abroad.
