Gunmen believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) killed 18 people hunting for truffles in the desert in Syria on Wednesday, and more than 50 remain missing, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said.
“Eighteen people were confirmed killed, including four pro-government fighters… while more than 50 are still missing after an attack by gunmen likely affiliated with IS,” the war monitor said.
Fourteen people collecting truffles in the Syrian desert in Raqqa were killed in February in the explosion of a landmine left by ISIS.
Truffle hunters brave the risks every year from February to April, despite warnings from the government, in order to collect the high-value product in the northern Syrian desert.
