Islamic State militants kill dozens of truffle hunters in Syrian desert

The Syrian desert is famous for producing some of the best truffles in the world. Credit: Delil Suleiman/AFP via Getty Images

Islamic State fighters are suspected of killing people picking truffles in Syria on Sunday, an observer said.

«A total of 31 people, including 12 fighters, supporters of the regime was killed while picking truffles in the desert east of [central city] Hama,” according to the British Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

At least 26 people were previously reported dead. This figure was confirmed by the official Syrian news agency Sana.

Syrian desert truffles sell at high prices in a country ravaged by 12 years of war and a devastating economic crisis.

Authorities often warn against risky practices. But every year between February and April, hundreds of impoverished Syrians search for truffles in the vast Syrian desert, or Badiya, a notorious jihadist hideout that is also littered with anti-personnel mines.

According to the observatory, more than 230 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since February in ISIS attacks on truffle hunters or from mines left by extremists.

They opened fire on the hunters

Among the victims were 15 people. truffle-pickers whose throats were slit by IS in March.

In February, IS fighters on motorcycles opened fire on truffle hunters and killed at least 68 people, a military observer said.

The Syrian desert is known for producing some of the best truffles in the world.

An expensive mushroom can sell for up to £20 per kilogram (£2.2) depending on size and variety in a country where the average monthly wage is around £14.

In March 2019, IG lost the last bits of territory in Syria to a military campaign backed by the US-led coalition, but the remnants of the jihadists continue to hide in the desert and carry out deadly attacks.

Preparing attacks in Iraq

They are ambushing civilians, led by Kurdish forces, Syrian government forces and pro-Iranian militants, and are also launching attacks in neighboring Iraq.

The war in Syria has claimed the lives of some 500,000 people and left millions behind since the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests began in March 2011.The remnants of explosives planted by all parties to the conflict are now claiming more lives in Syria than anywhere else in the world, according to the United Nations.

According to the UN, since 2015 on average, five people are killed or injured every day.