'Hezbollah plans to seize power in Beirut', if Hariri indictments come down - can do it 'in 3 days'

'Hezbollah plans to seize power in Beirut', if Hariri indictments come down - can do it 'in 3 days'

From Eye on the World:

Hezbollah conducting simulations in case of Hariri indictments, 'Asharq Alawsat' reports; retired general says Hezbollah could seize power in 3 days.

(JPost) Sources in Lebanon said that Hizbullah is preparing to seize power in Beirut should the UN Hariri tribunal implicate the group in the assassination of the former prime minister, Lebanon's Asharq Alawsat reported on Tuesday. The report said that the group is preparing for a "zero hour scenario," conducting security simulations in the capital city.

The report said that Hizbullah, Amal and other pro-Syrian groups were in close contact and coordination relating to a plan to take control of Beirut, the road to the south of the city, and neutralizing Christian and Sunni areas. The sources said that the groups were already plotting zones of who would control which areas, in a day-after scenario.

According to the sources, Beirut was divided into three zones of military control, allocated to Amal, Hizbullah and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, and that alternative plans were prepared by Hizbullah for a scenario where the other groups could not hold control of their zones.

Additionally, the report indicated that the "zero hour" refers to a scenario in which indictments are issued by the Hariri tribunal, followed by civil unrest in the streets of the Lebanese capital devolving into violence and a security vacuum.

The report, quoting retired Lebanese Brig.-Gen. Amin Hattit who is known to be close to Hizbullah, said that the plans contained many realistic elements. He said that Hizbullah's current strategy is to prevent strife, but if they are unable to prevent an explosion of unrest, they will take advantage. He said, "Everyone knows that the temptation will be limited geographically to areas where there is a Shi'ite majority," referring to areas of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley region, and the south of the country.

Hattit concluded that "if this scenario does take place, Hizbullah would be able to seize power in three days, or a week at most," and that the "era of Hariri in Lebanon" would end forever.