Speaking at the Brothers of Italy's annual Artreju Festival in Rome, Mikati said a third of the population of 5.8 million is made up people who fled Syria, making Lebanon home to the largest number of refugees per capita.

"The strain on our resources has been substantial, worsening existing economic trouble and creating fierce competition for jobs and services," he said.

"Today, and after the political transformation in Syria, the best resolution to this issue is for Syrians to go back to their homeland."

Authorities in Lebanon say the country hosts around two million Syrians, while more than 800,000 are registered with the United Nations.