Kerry urges aircraft in Syria grounded for aid flow

NEW YORK (AA) – On the heels of the end of the cease-fire in Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that all aircraft over key humanitarian routes should be grounded in order to restore the flow of "desperately" needed aid deliveries.

Speaking to the U.N. Security Council, Kerry said the step "could restore credibility" to end the civil war in Syria, adding that it would "give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded."

Kerry also said that grounding the aircraft could prevent the Syrian regime from attacking civilians in the guise of fighting the al-Nusra front.

On Monday, a U.S./Russia-brokered seven-day cessation of hostilities to allow humanitarian aid into the country came to an end, but with little progress in improving conditions on the ground.

Over the weekend, U.S.-led anti-Daesh aircraft inadvertently hit a Syrian military camp and killed 62 Syrian soldiers, further fraying relations between Washington and Moscow over Syria.