Unknown people kill 2 truffle hunters in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Two truffle hunters were killed on Wednesday by unknown people in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
A local source from the village of al-Masrab, west of Deir ez-Zor, said that people from the village who work in truffle hunting were attacked by unknown people while working.
The Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press Agency documented the killing and injury of 266 truffle hunters across Syria at the end of truffle season in 2023.
Each year, hundreds of Syrians risk their lives in the vast Syrian Desert, which produces high-quality truffles. The late winter season is largely seen as an opportunity to earn a good income, due to the high prices paid for the desert delicacy, despite the threats of landmines and Islamic State (ISIS) presence.
Sami al-Muhammad and Thabet al-‘nezi were killed while the other truffle hunters fled towards the village, according to the source.
The source said that the Iranian-backed Liwa Fatemiyoun is likely responsible for the attack, as the group has a nearby military post, the source added.