The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of 11 almond gatherers in an attack attributed to ISIS in the Raqqa countryside, the former stronghold of the extremist organization.
According to the Observatory, their deaths occurred "as a result of a car bomb explosion carrying a group of them, during a trip to search for almonds in the Raqqa countryside" in northern Syria.
The statement further explained, "The explosion was followed by an ISIS attack with firearms on a gathering of vehicles of almond gatherers."
The Observatory, headquartered in Britain but with a wide network of sources in Syria, also noted that the attack resulted in the abduction of three individuals.
Despite the risks and security warnings, hundreds of Syrian civilians and military personnel venture into vast desert areas to gather almonds due to their high prices amid challenging economic conditions in the country after 13 years of relentless conflict.
ISIS seized large parts of Syria in 2014 before its defeat in March 2019 by an international coalition led by the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces, with Kurds as its backbone.
Despite its defeat, ISIS sleeper cells remain active across the Syrian desert, carrying out regular deadly attacks, especially during the rainy season between February and April, the only time of the year when almonds can be collected.
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