Syria
15 Food Pickers Killed by Islamic State
An attack by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in central Syria has killed 15 people, including seven civilians, and kidnapped at least 40 others.
Posted
The victims were picking desert truffles (pictured).
AFP
At least 15 people, including 7 civilians, were killed and at least 40 abducted in the jihadist group’s attack. Islamic State (EI) in the center Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) announced on Friday. According to OSDH’s count, more than 150 people, most of them taking sand truffles sold for gold, have been killed since February in attacks by IS militants entrenched in the desert or in detonation of mines.
15 people loyal to the regime in Damascus, seven civilians and eight armed, were reportedly beheaded by IS militants while they were foraging in the desert of Hama province (centre). It has an extensive resource network in Syria. OSDH added that another 40 people were abducted. Syrian state media did not immediately report the attack.
Multiple attacks
Controlling large swathes of territory in Syria since 2014, ISIS recorded a territorial defeat in the country in March 2019 after being fought by the US and an international anti-jihadist coalition led by Kurdish groups. Since 2023, the group has seen a multifold increase in deadly attacks in the region.
Since 2011, as the country has suffered a war-induced economic collapse, people in remote rural areas have been picking food to make money. A kilo of truffles, usually harvested from February to April, costs between five and $25, depending on size and quality.
The conflict in Syria, fueled by a crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has claimed half a million lives, displaced millions and torn the country apart.
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(AFP)
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