ISIS militants killed 30 civilians who were collecting truffles in the Syrian province of Hama, Syrian newspaper Al Watan reported on Sunday, citing sources.

The bodies of 26 victims were transported to the hospital, the director of a hospital in the Salamiyah desert told the newspaper.

In a separate incident, four shepherds were killed and two were kidnapped while they were tending sheep in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, during an attack launched by gunmen believed to be affiliated with ISIS cells.

ISIS has been launching several attacks targeting workers in the vast Syrian desert since the truffle harvesting season began in February.

In March, a truck carrying people to collect desert truffles struck a mine planted by ISIS militants. Several mines exploded when the truck was passing by, killing seven people and injuring 63, according to a source.

In February, Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that 53 Syrian civilians who were collecting truffles, were killed in a terrorist attack by ISIS in the southeast of the city of Al-Sukhna, in the eastern countryside of Homs.

It is worth noting that while the value of 1 kilogram of desert truffles is approximately $20, a price considered high, people in Syria keep trying to harvest these truffles despite the risks, due to the difficult economic situation and the 12-year ongoing war.