18 killed in suspected IS attack in eastern Syria

At least 18 people were killed, 16 injured and another 50 went missing when people suspected to be Islamic State (IS) militants attacked truffle harvesters on Wednesday in Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria. This was reported by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

According to the Observatory, the attack was carried out in the Kabajab desert area in the southern part of Deir ez-Zor province by armed men believed to be linked to IS.

Among the 18 killed, four were members of the pro-government National Defense Forces.

The victims were ambushed by gun-wielding assailants, which led to intense fighting with the National Defense Forces, the center said.