Twelve Syrians nuns kidnapped by Syria's radical rebels earlier could possibly be released as soon as on Sunday, local TV reported.

The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said it has "information about a deal for today's release of the kidnapped nuns of Maloula amid preparations for official reception of them in Damascus."

Radical jihadist militants earlier kidnapped the 12 nuns from their convent in the Christian town of Maloula, north of Damascus. The rebels took the nuns to the nearby town of Yabroud in December last year, where they have been fighting hard with the government troops recently.

Syrian forces have unleashed a wide-scale offensive over the past three weeks to recapture the key town, where more than 10,000 rebel fighters are believed to hide out.

As clashes are flaring up in the surrounding of Yabroud, media reports said communication with the kidnapped nuns had been cut off.

The rebels initially demanded the release of tens of their men in Syrian prisons, but the recent military showdown has apparently forced them into accepting an undisclosed deal to release the 12 nuns, whose kidnapping has unleashed a barrage of international condemnation.