Russia says ceasefire in Syria's Aleppo in place unless rebels attack

Russia has promised that its air force will continue to hold off on strikes against war-ravaged Aleppo unless rebels launch a new offensive.

The Kremlin said on Monday that it would stick to the ceasefire in Syria's second city, despite rebel's snubbing Moscow's offer to leave the city.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin deemed a ceasefire on eastern Aleppo to be "reasonable if militants don't start combat action."

Russia has halted air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo since 18 October, after international condemnation over its bombardment of the city.

Putin ordered an additional 10-hour "humanitarian pause" on Friday that saw Syrian forces on the ground halt fire to allow rebels and civilians to quit Aleppo.

But rebels scorned the offer to leave with their weapons, and civilians stayed put in the devastated eastern part of the city.

Russia is meanwhile beefing up its firepower in the Mediterranean Sea off Syria by dispatching its only aircraft carrier and warships to bolster its forces.