The incident occurred in the town of Al-Saan, in the municipality of Salamieh, where members of the extremist group attacked local residents who were collecting truffles, local media reported.

Some 70 civilians were kidnapped in the action in which several people were killed or injured while trying to escape from the attacking radicals.

Syrian army units immediately launched combing operations in the area in search of survivors among the civilians and the terrorists, who are hiding in caves in the desert areas, according to local people.

In March, a similar attack in the town of Al-Rahjan, in the municipality of Salamieh, resulted in one shepherd killed and three others wounded, while 500 sheep were slaughtered.

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