REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MOSCOW -- Russian warplanes were continuing to bomb "terrorist organisations" in Syria hours before a ceasefire deadline, the Kremlin said on Friday, denying reports it was carrying out intense strikes on rebel strongholds.

"The Russian air force is certainly continuing its operation in Syria" against "terrorist organisations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian warplanes were targeting rebels ahead of a truce deal entering into force.

Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said that Russian air strikes were "more intense than usual" and targeted rebel bastions, including in Eastern Ghouta east of Damascus, northern Homs province and the west of Aleppo province.

Peskov dismissed the report, saying that Russia was focusing its firepower on the Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front and other extremist groups designated as legitimate targets by the UN Security Council, and would continue doing so after the ceasefire takes hold.

"This is one of the conditions of an initiative agreed by the presidents of Russia and the United States," Peskov added.

The ceasefire agreement brokered by Moscow and Washington calls for a "cessation of hostilities" between Russian-backed President Bashar al-Assad's forces and opposition groups from midnight Friday Damascus time (2200 GMT).

But many fear Russia will keep pounding moderate rebels fighting Assad's regime, under the cover of the fight against terrorism.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika