Opposition groups controlling several towns in southern Syria were on Friday (June 29th) considering a deal for a regime takeover in exchange for an end to fierce bombing, AFP reported.

Russian-backed regime forces have been battering opposition-held parts of Daraa province since June 19th, and calling on opposition fighters to surrender.

Syrian state media reported that three towns in eastern Daraa had agreed to a regime takeover in the last two days, and on Friday carried preliminary reports that fighters in four more towns had "agreed to hand over their weapons".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that as many as eight towns were in negotiations over a potential regime takeover.

"There are talks between the Russians on one side and opposition factions on the other, through local mediators, over the fate of eight towns in Daraa's countryside," it said.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said members of Russia's military police were leading the talks for each town separately.

"Most of them appear willing to reconcile with the regime," he said, which would see opposition fighters hand over their heavy weapons.