Islamic State militants launched a deadly attack on villagers collecting truffles in eastern Syria, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and numerous injuries and disappearances. The assault occurred near the town of Kobajeb in the Deir el-Zour province, bordering Iraq, marking one of the most severe strikes by the Islamic State group in the region in over a year. Truffle hunters, who often work in large groups in remote areas, were targeted by IS militants, with some individuals potentially being kidnapped for ransom.
Despite the defeat of the militant group in Syria in March 2019, IS sleeper cells continue to carry out lethal attacks in Syria and neighboring Iraq, where they once established an Islamic caliphate. The truffles being harvested are a sought-after seasonal delicacy that fetch high prices, prompting many Syrians, a majority of whom live below the poverty line, to engage in truffle collection.
In a separate incident, an al-Qaida-linked group in Syria's rebel-held northwest released over 400 detainees from its jails following protests demanding their freedom. The attack in Deir el-Zour resulted in conflicting casualty figures, with reports of 18 to 44 deaths and numerous vehicles being destroyed. The victims included members of the pro-government National Defense Forces, who had dispatched reinforcements to the area.
Meanwhile, in Idlib province, protests erupted over the alleged torture and death of a rebel faction member in a jail operated by the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. The demonstrations demanded prisoner releases and the resignation of HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani, prompting concessions from the group, including the release of 420 detainees from its jails.
Anti-HTS sentiments have been escalating following a series of arrests of senior officials within the organization, with reports suggesting the imminent release of a top al-Qaida official detained by HTS. The arrests were purportedly linked to allegations of providing intelligence to the U.S.-led coalition, resulting in drone strikes that targeted key al-Qaida figures in Syria.
