Gen. Petraeus makes surprise Lebanon visit

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top coalition military commander in Iraq, paid a surprise visit to Lebanon Wednesday, officials said.

Lebanon's official news agency announced that Petraeus arrived aboard a U.S. military plane and was expected to hold talks with Lebanese defense officials, Iran's Press TV reported.

DEBKAfile.com, an Israeli Web site, quoted unnamed military sources as saying Petraeus would discuss the strategic ramifications of a decision by the Western-backed Lebanese government to allow Hezbollah militants to remained armed and fight what they consider Israeli occupations of certain territories.

Also under discussion will be Hezbollah's seizure of two strategic Lebanese peaks, Mt. Sannine and Mt. Barukh, sources told DEBKAfile.com