Three people were killed today and at least 26 others were kidnapped in an attack attributed to Islamic State in northern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) said.
This attack brings to 139 the number of people, including 120 civilians, who have been killed since February while searching for truffles, either in attacks by IS jihadists or due to explosions of scattered landmines, according to the Observatory’s count.
“Guns believed to be linked to IS cells” killed three workers picking truffles in the desert in the southern part of Aleppo province “by slitting their throats”, the OSDH told AFP
The NGO added that at least 26 people, including civilians, including women, were abducted.
Desert truffle prices in Syria are exorbitant
The desert truffle, usually harvested from February to April, sells for exorbitant prices in Syria. A kilogram of truffles costs between 5 and 25 dollars, depending on the size and quality, in a country where the average monthly wage is about 18 dollars.
Due to the economic collapse caused by the civil war that has been ongoing since 2011, more and more villagers are looking for truffles.
The civil war, sparked by a crackdown on pro-democracy protests, has left half a million dead, displaced millions and torn the country apart.
Source: News Beast
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