Hour Of Reckoning.

In the aftermath of the deadly explosion of Istanbul that killed six people and injured 80, Turkey's defence ministry launched a counter-strike operation in northern Syria and Iraq. 11 individuals have been killed so far in this crossfire and more are expected to die if tensions keep escalating. The region has seen its share of instability, and with this feud being added to the mix, there is a risk of great unrest that will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on the entire international community. A united stance is vital at this point in time, and all parties must be urged to de-escalate operations.

The explosion in Istanbul on November 13 sparked immense backlash from the Turkish government which vowed to hold the attackers responsible. The Kurdish fighters denied any involvement in the matter but Ankara was convinced that the Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK-the outlawed Syrian Kurdish forces-was behind the bombing. This accusation comes in light of the decades-long conflict between Turkey and the PKK since 1984. This would explain why, within the late hours of the night, an air operation was carried out in the name of self-defence.

The justification that the Turkish government gave for this aggressive approach is one that is often used by...