At least 53 people died today in a terrorist attack attributed to Islamic statein central Syria.

The jihadist organization has stepped up its attacks in recent months despite the loss of its strongholds in Syria and despite the blows it is receiving from the US-led international anti-jihadist coalition.

Syrian state television reported that the victims were picking truffles southeast of the city of Sokhneh in Homs province. Seven soldiers were among the dead, Palmyra hospital director Walid Audi told pro-government Syrian station Cham FM.

A similar attack took place in the same area last Saturday, killing 16 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 60 people were abducted.

It appears that ISIS is attacking by exploiting the fact that people in isolated rural areas are leaving their villages to gather truffles.

Desert or sand truffles are harvested in February-April and sold on the market at very high prices.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP, Reuters.}