A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up of US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters, stands guard near the village of Bir Fawaz, 20 km north of Raqa, during their offensive towards the Islamic State (IS) group's Syrian stronghold as part of the third phase to retake the city and its surroundings, on February 8, 2017. (AFP photo)

DAMASCUS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government said on Monday that it is ready to exchange prisoners it has with kidnapped people in rebel hands, state news agency SANA reported.

The offer came in light of efforts exerted for the upcoming Syria talks in Astana on Feb. 15-16, and the proposed swap could include the release of prisoners in Syrian jails in exchange for civilians and military personnel in rebel captivity.

The move came just days after a successful prisoner swap between the rebels and the government.

On Wednesday, over 40 women and children, who were abducted by rebels from the countryside of Latakia province in northwestern Syria three and a half years ago, were set free in a swap between the government and the rebels.