Two explosions rock Lebanon

Two explosions rocked Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli on Friday, causing casualties, witnesses and security sources said. Initial reports have said that at least seven people were killed and 40 injured.

One blast was outside a mosque as Friday prayers ended. The other hit central Tripoli.

Reportedly the attacks have targeted a Sunni mosque while other reports said that one of the explosions happened near the residence of former Prime Minister Najib Miqati, who was born into Sunni Muslim family in Tripoli.

Last night, four missiles were launched into northern Israel from Lebanon, to which the Israli air force responded to with a series of bombings to the south of the capital Beirut.

The missiles launched into Isreal were claimed by a Sunni Muslim group rather than Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militia that holds sway in south Lebanon.

An Israeli military source said the "terror site" bombed was near Na'ameh, between Beirut and Sidon, but no further details were provided.

"Israel will not tolerate terrorist aggression originating from Lebanese territory," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said in announcing Friday's air strike.

A Palestinian militant group in Lebanon confirmed one of its bases south of Beirut was hit by the Israeli bombardment but there were no injuries or significant damage.

Lebanon's al-Manar television quoted a spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command as saying the group's base in Na'ameh was attacked. The spokesman said the PFLP-GC was surprised it was targeted because the earlier rocket fire was claimed by a separate group.

Israel and Lebanon are technically at war. Israel briefly invaded Lebanon during an inconclusive 2006 conflict with Hezbollah. The Israelis are reluctant to open a new Lebanese front, however, given spiraling regional instability.