| 2023 Hama attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of theSyrian civil war | |
 | |
| Location | Desert nearHama,Hama Governorate, Syria |
| Date | 16 April 2023 |
| Target | Truffle hunters |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | 36[1] |
| Perpetrators |  Islamic State |
On 16 April 2023, 36truffle hunters were killed in the desert nearHama inHama Governorate, Syria, when their group was attacked byIslamic State insurgents.[1] Seventeen of the dead were reportedly also pro-regimeNDF fighters.[1] During the same day, Islamic State gunmen opened fire at a group ofshepherds nearDeir ez-Zor, killing five shepherds and 250sheep.[1][2][3][4]
Truffle hunting is a popular activity in many parts of Syria because of the value of truffles; one kilogram can be worth up to US$25, which is greater than the average monthly wage in that country.[1] Islamic State insurgents have notably targeted truffle hunters in 2023, with attacks resulting in particularly high death tolls.[5] On 17 February 2023, Islamic State militantsattacked a group of truffle hunters inAl-Sukhnah inHoms Governorate, killing 61 truffle hunters and 7 soldiers.[6] Six days later on 23 February, IS militants killed 15 truffle hunters and kidnapped 40 others inHama Governorate.[7] Attacks on truffle hunters since February 2023 have resulted in more than 150 deaths.[5]
During the attack, 36 people were killed in the desert near Hama in Hama Governorate. Seventeen of the dead truffle hunters were pro-regimeNDF fighters.[1] In a separate attack on the same day, Islamic State insurgents attacked a group of shepherds with gunfire. According to theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights, five shepherds were killed and two other shepherds were reportedly kidnapped. 250 sheep were also killed, and the remaining livestock were stolen.[1]
