Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a series of threats on Monday, warning that his group would kidnap Israeli soldiers “when the opportunity arises,” while sharply rejecting planned negotiations between Israel and Lebanon set to take place in Washington.

In remarks to the media ahead of the talks, Qassem denounced the diplomatic effort, declaring that “this negotiation is a surrender for Lebanon and takes away its strength. We reject negotiations with Israel. The negotiations are a series of unnecessary concessions.” He added, “Our decision in the resistance is that we will not rest and we will not surrender, and the battlefield speaks for itself.”

Qassem called on Lebanese officials to cancel the anticipated meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, urging what he described as a “historic position.” He appealed directly to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to stop making concessions and to join Hezbollah’s stance against Israel, saying: “After that, we will reach understandings on everything.”

Framing the situation as a stark choice, Qassem said that in the face of what he called Israeli aggression, there are only two options—fight or surrender—and insisted Hezbollah would never choose the latter. “Whoever wants to surrender can surrender alone, without us,” he said, adding that his group would continue fighting “until its last breath.”

He also reiterated demands tied to the existing ceasefire framework, including a complete halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, the return of displaced residents, and the start of reconstruction efforts.

In a more direct threat, Qassem warned that Hezbollah operatives would capture Israeli soldiers when conditions allow. He said the group has quietly prepared for confrontation, operating in a decentralized manner and engaging in what he described as “cat and mouse” tactics on the battlefield.

Addressing internal Lebanese tensions, Qassem said Hezbollah views all Lebanese—Muslims and Christians alike—as brothers, and accused unnamed parties of attempting to incite sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, as well as to drive a wedge between Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal movement. He insisted such efforts would fail.

Qassem also pushed back against accusations from Gulf states, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, denying any Hezbollah presence in those countries. “What interest do you have in inventing things and accusing us?” he asked, claiming there is no evidence to support the allegations.

On Syria, Qassem stated that the Syrian people are free to determine their own future and said Hezbollah has no involvement in the country’s current phase. He added that both the Syrian leadership and public understand what he described as attempts by the United States, Israel, and others to create tensions between Syria and Lebanon. “We have no problem with Syria. Our only enemy is Israel,” he said.

In a message to Lebanese civilians displaced by the war, Qassem urged them to direct their anger toward Israel. Acknowledging the heavy toll of the conflict, he said the damage in Lebanon is significant but argued it would have been worse without Hezbollah’s actions: “If we had not fought, we would have paid a heavier price and lost everything.”