BEIRUT - Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Tuesday that the Lebanese armed group is ready to face a comprehensive war with Israel should the latter expand its attacks against Lebanon, local news website Elnashra reported.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday rejected media reports of him receiving warnings from Israel about its intention to wage a large-scale attack on Lebanon

"If Israel wants to wage a comprehensive war, we are ready for it," Qassem said, stressing that "any Israeli expansion of the war on Lebanon will be met with devastation, destruction, and displacement in Israel."

He added that "the resistance is ready for battle and will not allow Israel to achieve any victory," noting that "our decision is not to expand the war, but we will fight it if it is imposed on us."

The Hezbollah official also said that "talks about the withdrawal of the Radwan forces, a special operation forces unit of Hezbollah, from the Lebanese border with Israel, is not true," adding that the group only used "a small portion" of its capabilities during the border clash with Israel.

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Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday rejected media reports of him receiving warnings from Israel about its intention to wage a large-scale attack on Lebanon.

A statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers said that the prime minister rejects such news, adding that the circulated news aims at exerting pressure on Lebanon.

Mikati also assured that he is conducting a wide range of diplomatic contacts to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon.

Some media reports over the past few days said Lebanon had received the Israeli warning through diplomatic channels.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.