Kerry Claims Syrian Government Blocking Humanitarian Aid Deliveries

The Syrian government is blocking humanitarian access for civilians in Syria, despite having agreed to a Russia-US deal on cessation of hostilities, US State Secretary John Kerry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Kerry called on Russia to use its pressure in the region to influence Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"This started Monday night of last week — this past week. And the humanitarian assistance is supposed to be flowing… The regime, once again, is blocking it," Kerry told CNN on Sunday.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations, such as the Islamic State militant group, which is prohibited in many countries, including Russia and the United States.

Humanitarian access, along with seven days of reduced violence, is a condition of the Syria ceasefire agreement announced last week by Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.