The plan was drafted by Lebanese Forces party chief Samir Geagea,
regarded as close to Hariri as well as Syria. Geagea, a participant in a
dialogue over Hizbullah's role in Lebanon, has proposed that Hizbullah
contribute up to 4,000 special operations troops to the Army. Hizbullah was
estimated to have a force of up to 20,000.
The SOF brigade would conduct both border patrols as well as missions in
urban areas to quell unrest and insurgency plots. Geagea envisioned
that many of the Hizbullah troops would operate in civilian clothes,
particularly in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.
"My proposal came in light of the unstable situation, which the region
is witnessing and that could lead to a potential escalation in south Lebanon
and based on the delicate situation that could turn the smallest incident
into a devastating war," Geagea said.
The plan was submitted in wake of a bloody clash between the militaries
of Israel and Lebanon in August 2010. Israel has accused Hizbullah of taking
control over Lebanese Army units throughout the south.
Geagea said Hizbullah would also contribute its missile and rocket
arsenal for use by the Lebanese military. He stressed that the military
would have responsibility for using these weapons.
"But given the current circumstances and since we did not find a
solution for the issue of weapons, I presented this paper to benefit from
[Hizbullah's] weapons under the stated conditions,” Geagea said.
Hizbullah has dismissed Geagea's plan, presented at a defense strategy
session on Aug. 19. Officials said the proposal was meant to limit
Hizbullah's forces and eventually confiscate its huge weapons arsenal.
"The goal behind the proposal is not to defend Lebanon but to eliminate
Hizbullah and its weapons," Mohammed Raad, the Hizbullah whip in parliament,
said.