CAIRO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Chief Ahmed Aboul-Gheit has called for "an immediate ceasefire" in the southwest of Syria, his office said in a statement Thursday.

Aboul-Gheit said he watches with worry and concern the dangerous military escalation in southwest of Syria that resulted in killing of civilians.

The statement came while a wave of airstrikes pounded southern Syria on Thursday, after the failure on Wednesday of the Russian-brokered talks to end the offensive in Daraa province.

The AL chief also said he worries about the large number of displaced people in southwest of Syria, which is estimated at 300,000.

The statement reiterated concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which it said in turn could threaten the situation along the Syrian borders with neighboring countries.

Aboul-Gheit called on all concerned parties to work on reaching a truce and putting an end to the recent military offensive in Syria to save the lives of civilians and preserve the regional security and stability.

The Syrian state media recently said several towns and villages agreed to embark on a reconciliation deal with the Syrian government forces in Daraa, where the Syrian army launched a military campaign nearly two weeks ago.

The reconciliation deals, backed by Russia, demand the rebels lay down their weapons as a prelude to the entry of the Syrian government institutions.

Nearly 150 civilians have been killed since the assault in the south began, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.