At least 53 people were killed today in an attack attributed to Islamic State in central Syria.

The jihadist organization has multiplied its attacks in recent months, despite losing its strongholds in Syria and despite the blows it receives from the international anti-jihadist coalition, led by the US.

Syrian state television reported that the victims were picking truffles southeast of the city of Sohne in Homs province. Seven soldiers were among the dead, Palmyra hospital director Walid Audi told pro-government Syrian station Cham FM.

A similar attack took place in the same area last Saturday, killing 16 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 60 people were kidnapped.

IS appears to be launching attacks taking advantage of the fact that residents of isolated rural areas are leaving their villages to pick truffles.

Desert truffles, or sand truffles, are harvested during February-April and are sold at very high prices in the market.

The death of ISIS leader in Syria Hamza al Homsi during a Thursday night raid, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced earlier today Friday.