Damscus: Terrorists from the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) attacked in the Syrian province of Hama on Sunday, killing at least 26, according to the SANA news agency.

Locals were attacked by terrorists while they were gathering truffles in the desert in the province's east, a source within the regional police told the news agency.

According to Syrian media, the incident is said to have resulted in the shooting of over 30 civilians. According to a local hospital director in the city of Salamiyah, 26 victims of the attack had their remains transported to his facility.

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Al Watan newspaper in Syria issued a warning last week against people going in search of truffles in the Hama desert due to the high risk of encountering unexploded mines and shells as well as ISIS remnant activity.

According to a representative of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, between February 5 and March 22, 47 people lost their lives and 71 others were hurt while truffle-hunting.

According to the newspaper, numerous people have also vanished in the area and may have also been abducted by ISIS extremists.

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53 civilians were killed in one of the major ISIS attacks in the middle of February by terrorists who were hunting for truffles, according to SANA.

Desert truffles are still quite popular in the Middle East even though they are not as rare and valuable as their rather distant European cousins. The price of the mushrooms can range from $22 to $65 per kilo and is typically sold in that manner. 

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Depending on the quality of the crop, some desert truffle varieties can cost as much as $237 per kilo. Al Watan claims that this year's harvest was abundant, which resulted in lower truffle prices on Syrian markets.