Hezbollah is plotting to take control of Beirut should the U.N. Special Tribunal on Lebanon indict any of its members for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Arabic-language, London-based daily Asharq Alawsat reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, Hezbollah, Amal and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party are formulating a plan to divide Lebanon's capital into three military zones, each controlled by a separate militia.
Should the tribunal issue indictments for Hezbollah members, violent street demonstrations would follow, justifying a military coup to restore order, according to the Lebanese-based terror group, which is funded, trained and armed by Iran.
"Everyone knows that the temptation will be limited geographically to areas where there is a Shi'ite majority," Lebanese Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Amin Hattit, a Hezbollah supporter, said, according to Asharq Alawsat. The general is referring to the Bekaa Valley, parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon.
"If this scenario does take place, Hezbollah would be able to seize power in three days or a week at most," Hattit said, ending "Sa'ad Hariri and the Saudis' tenure in Lebanon for good."
Sa'ad Hariri, Lebanon's current prime minister and the son of the slain premier, welcomed Hezbollah into his unity coalition when he assumed office a year ago in November 2009.