Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that Israeli threats against his country and the threat of a comprehensive war will not deter the Lebanese from adhering to their right to defend their land by all means approved by international laws.

This came in a statement by Mikati's office as part of his continued intensive diplomatic contacts and meetings in the context of confronting the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the emerging threats to deal a strong blow to it in response to an attack that claimed the lives of 12 people in the town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights on Saturday, which Hezbollah is accused of being responsible for despite its denial.

According to the statement, Mikati stressed during these contacts that "Lebanon condemns all forms of violence, especially attacks on civilians."

Mikati called for "stopping the Israeli aggression on southern Lebanon and implementing international resolution 1701 in full."

He said: "It is surprising that the Israeli enemy, which is waging a relentless war against the Palestinians, killing, destroying and displacing them, claims to be grieving over Arab victims who fell in an Arab region occupied by Israel and threatens and intimidates, knowing that the full circumstances of what happened are still unknown."

He added: "The new Israeli threats against Lebanon and the threat of a comprehensive war will not deter the Lebanese from adhering to their right to their land and defending it by all means approved by international laws."

He stressed that "this position has been communicated to all of Lebanon's friends in the world and to the European Union, and the Israeli allegations and accusations will be responded to in a detailed letter to the UN Security Council."

Mikati thanked "the Arab and foreign countries that expressed their full solidarity with Lebanon in the face of the Israeli threats" and "their tireless efforts to stop the Israeli aggression" against it.

He also called for "not being carried away by rumours and false news that aim to spread panic in the hearts of all Lebanese."

He considered that "the psychological war waged by the Israeli enemy aims first and foremost to strike the morale of the Lebanese, especially in the midst of a tourist season that carries many hopes and positive indicators."

He stressed that "the government is present with all its ministries and agencies to confront any emergency, but the required measures are being taken in a way that does not cause panic among the Lebanese."

Against the backdrop of the killing of 12 Druze, most of them children, and the injury of others, on Saturday, as a result of a missile falling on a football field in the town of Majdal Shams in the Syrian Golan Heights, expectations are increasing of a major escalation between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.

While the Israeli army accused Hezbollah of being behind this incident and vowed to respond, the party categorically denied any responsibility for it.

Amid fears of escalation, air traffic to and from Lebanon via the only airport in the capital Beirut between Sunday and Monday witnessed a state of anticipation and caution, especially with the announcement by a number of international airlines to postpone or cancel their flights.

While the foreign ministries of many Arab and Western countries have directed their citizens not to travel to Lebanon at the present time, and to leave it or take special safety measures if they remain there, in anticipation of an expected Israeli strike.

For decades, Israel has occupied Lebanese territory in the south, the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, and the Palestinian territories.