IS militants kill at least 18 people in an attack on villagers collecting truffles in eastern Syria

By GHAITH AL-SAYED and BASSEM MROUE
Associated Press

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — Syria’s activists and pro-government media say Islamic State militants have killed at least 18 people in an attack on villagers collecting truffles in eastern Syria. They say dozens are missing following the attack on Wednesday. It was one of the deadliest attacks by the extremists group in more than a year. The attack occurred in a desert area near the town of Kobajeb in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq.  Since truffle hunters work in large groups in remote areas, IS militants in previous years have repeatedly preyed on them, emerging from the desert to kill many and abduct others to be ransomed for money.