2023 Al-Sukhnah attack

On 17 February 2023, a group of Islamic State insurgents attacked a large group of truffle farmers and their Syrian Army escort in the desert, southwest of the town of Al-Sukhnah in Homs Governorate, Syria. At least 61 civilians and seven Syrian soldiers were killed in the attack.^[1] It was one of the deadliest attacks since the 2018 As-Suwayda attacks.^[2][3][4][5]

2023 Al-Sukhnah attack
Part of the Syrian civil war
Location	Desert near Al-Sukhnah, Homs Governorate, Syria
Date	17 February 2023
Target	Farmers
Attack type	Massacre
Deaths	68[1]
Perpetrators	Islamic State

In recent years, many attacks against civilians while truffle hunting in central, north-eastern, and eastern areas of Syria had been noted. The Islamic State's remnants in the country have been known to use desert hideouts to ambush Kurdish-led forces and Syrian government troops, as well as to continue to launch attacks in neighboring Iraq, since losing much of their territory following a military campaign supported by a US-led coalition in March 2019.^[2] A similar attack on foragers in the same region on 11 February 2023 resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, mostly civilians, with dozens reportedly kidnapped, and 25 later released.^[6]