TALKS to cede the largest opposition holdout in south-western Syria to the government have failed, triggering an intense overnight bombing campaign on the densely populated town.

The onslaught on Nawa killed a dozen people and injured more than 100, activists and rescuers said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a “frenzied” bombing campaign had continued into yesterday, with at least 12 people killed as rescuers struggled to get to the casualties.

Khaled Solh, head of the Syrian civil defence unit known as the White Helmets, said only one ambulance was able to access Nawa, while civilians had used their cars to bring out at least 150 injured.

He said Nawa’s only hospital was struck in the attacks, rendering it non-operational.

Talks to hand over Nawa to the Syrian government had been continuing for a couple of days.

This encouraged displaced civilians to return to Nawa, but the talks faltered, triggering the overnight onslaught.