Activists and state media: 53 dead after IS attack in Syria Climate activists stick themselves on the red carpet at the Berlinale

At least 53 people have been killed in an attack by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) in Syria, according to activists and state media. The attack took place in the eastern city of Al-Suchna, the state agency Sana and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Friday evening. It was initially unclear whether the attackers shot or killed their victims with explosives.

The terrorists were armed and on motorcycles, the head of the observatory, Rami Abdel-Rahman, told the German news agency. First, the IS fighters attacked a checkpoint and killed at least seven soldiers, then they killed 46 civilians. According to the activists and Sana, people had collected truffles near the desert city before the attack. According to the observatory, several terrorists also managed to escape, along with some victims.

Located in central Homs province, Al-Suchna became a strategically important IS stronghold in 2015 before Syrian government forces pushed out the terrorist militia there two years later. Years ago, IS controlled large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. IS has now been defeated there militarily, but terrorist cells are still active in both countries and carry out attacks.

Shortly before the attack became known, the US Defense Department announced that the US military had killed a senior IS member in a helicopter attack in northeastern Syria. (sda/dpa)