The Facts
A suspected Islamic State group (IS) attack near the Syrian desert town of Kobajib in the country's eastern province of Deir al-Zour claimed the lives of at least 18 people on Wednesday, with some news outlets reporting up to 47 dead and over 50 missing.
During truffle gathering season, villagers venture into the desert in large groups to collect the delicacy, exposing themselves to the danger of IS attacks, as the group reportedly has active sleeper cells in the country's desert region.
The Spin
Narrative A
Every year, the government says the same thing — avoid truffle hunting in specific regions due to the high likelihood of IS attacks or landmines. Though opposition media like the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights aren't reliable, even those who support the terrorists in Syria recognize the barbarity of attacking poor villagers focused on making a living.
Narrative B
The Syrian government is also guilty of the deaths of the truffle hunters. The war's destruction and the government's inability to shore up the economy have forced many rural Syrians, who were already impoverished, to make dangerous journeys into the desert to collect one of the only viable resources they can exploit to earn a living.
