The Syrian province of Idlib remains on edge as Bashar al Assad's forces, backed by Russian war planes, strike the rebel stronghold from the air. For weeks now, the regime and its allies have been readying for a major ground assault to clear the region of what Assad has called terrorists. The international community has come out against the impending attack, warning any operation will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. One country that has endured the spillover effects of Syria's war is Lebanon. Our correspondent Courtney Kealy travelled to Arsal, a Lebanese town near the Syrian border, where she met a group of refugees who are anxiously waiting but too afraid to return home.

Guests

Sinan Ulgen - former Turkish Diplomat and a Visiting Scholar at Carnegie Europe

Hadi Albahra - former President of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces

Lebanon has taken in the most Syrian refugees of any other country. More than 1 million Syrians live there in Lebanon’s cities and makeshift camps. And Idlib is home to 3M people, including IDPs. So, what will be happened in Idlib? The cheap synthetic drug known as “bonsai” has spread to dangerous levels in Turkey, with around 500,000 people known to be using the drug in the country.

There are around 1.5 million drug addicts in Turkey, with approximately a third of them using synthetic drug. The number of deaths caused by the chemical drug is also increasing, particularly among young people. More than 680,500 people received drug addiction treatment between 2014-2016, costing more than 147 million Turkish liras ($37.5 million).

Lebanon has taken in the most Syrian refugees of any other country. More than 1 million Syrians live there in Lebanon’s cities and makeshift camps. And Idlib is home to 3M people, including IDPs. So, what will be happened in Idlib? The cheap synthetic drug known as “bonsai” has spread to dangerous levels in Turkey, with around 500,000 people known to be using the drug in the country.

700,000 Medical tourists visited Turkey in 2017 alone. Now Turkey is aiming for two million tourists by 2020.

What's behind the rise of Turkey's medical tourism sector? We speak to the experts

Guests:

Emre Ali Kodan - Chairman at Istanbul International Health and Tourism Association

Armando Aliu, a Fellow at Istanbul Commerce University.

The nearly 8 year long war in Syria has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history.

Aside from the estimated 500 - thousand people killed in the conflict - millions have been displaced.

Now there are growing fears a new escalation could make things worse.

The nearly 8 year long war in Syria has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history. Aside from the estimated 500 - thousand people killed in the conflict - millions have been displaced. Now there are growing fears a new escalation could make things worse.

Idlib - home to an estimated 3 million people - mostly IDPs - is in the crosshairs of Bashar al Assad's forces -

Regime soldiers and Iranian-backed mercenaries, fresh off a string of victories - are now massing near - the last rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. They're facing off against the NLF - or the national liberation front, which is backed by Turkey. And Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate HTS - which controls major population centers including Idlib city. An estimated 60,000 rebel fighters including HTS are in Idlib.

Idlib - home to an estimated 3 million people - mostly IDPs - is in the crosshairs of Bashar al Assad's forces -

Regime soldiers and Iranian-backed mercenaries, fresh off a string of victories - are now massing near - the last rebel stronghold in northwest Syria.

Guests:

Basak Yavcan

Associate Professor of Political Science at TOBB University of Economics and Technology

Edouard Rodier

Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council Europe.

They're facing off against the NLF - or the national liberation front, which is backed by Turkey. And Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate HTS - which controls major population centers including Idlib city. An estimated 60,000 rebel fighters including HTS are in Idlib. The leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran have met in Tehran - not to just find common ground on Idlib, but a political solution to the conflict.

The nearly 8 year long war in Syria has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history.

Aside from the estimated 500 - thousand people killed in the conflict - millions have been displaced.

Now there are growing fears a new escalation could make things worse.

Thousands of Rohingya people have been killed since last year.

Recently, the UN report says senior Myanmar military officials of genocide against the Rohingya. Turkey offers low-cost but quality medical treatments. In 2017 alone, 700,000 medical tourists visited the country