Russia's air force hit more than 60 terrorist targets in Syria over the past 24 hours, Moscow's military said yesterday, significantly ramping up its bombing campaign in the war-torn country.

"Sixty-seven sorties have been carried out from the Hmeimim air base" in Syria, the deputy head of the Russian General Staff, Lieutenant General Igor Makushev, said.

"Su-34M and Su-24SM warplanes hit 60 terrorist targets," he added.

According to intercepted radio communications, two high-ranking Islamic State field commanders and several hundred militants were killed, the Russian military said.

Last week, Moscow made a dramatic entry in the multi-front conflict in Syria, saying it needed to stop IS jihadists before they cross into Russia, which has a large Muslim minority.

Makushev said militants "have sustained significant casualties and been forced to change their tactics," seeking refuge in towns and villages, stressing that Moscow would increase the intensity of the strikes.

The defence ministry had said earlier that 27 terrorist targets have been hit on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Russian warships from the Caspian Sea fleet joined in the strikes with a volley of cruise missiles, the first time Moscow has used cruise missiles.

Makushev said Russia has been bombing command posts and communication centers, ammunition depots as well as training camps in Raqa, Latakia, Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.

Russia said its warplanes also dropped precision guided bombs on a command post in IS stronghold Raqa, killing two senior IS field commanders and some 200 fighters.

The strikes also destroyed six command posts and communication centers, six ammunition depots, 17 training camps, three underground targets in Latakia, two multiple artillery rocket systems and 17 vehicles and armored vehicles, among other targets, according to the military.

"In the vicinity of Aleppo, a strike hit a militants' base and ammunition depot set up in the building of a former prison," Makushev.

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