At least three explosions were heard in southern Lebanon's Tyre region at dawn on Friday, as Israel announced it was carrying out strikes in response to rocket fire.

"At least two shells fell near" a Palestinian refugee camp near Tyre city, said camp resident Abu Ahmad, who told AFP he "heard explosions."

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday addressed questions to the Lebanese government after dozens of rockets were fired from south Lebanon at northern Israel.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday called for restraint after rocket fire from southern Lebanon targeted Israel.

The Israeli army said it intercepted rocket fire from Lebanon Thursday after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside al-Aqsa Mosque -- Islam's third-holiest site -- drew warnings of retaliation from around the region.

Israel's army said it had "identified 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory" and that 25 were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.

The Internal Security Forces on Thursday announced foiling an attempt to use a drone to smuggle drugs into the central Roumieh Prison.

In a statement, the ISF said a drone was detected hovering over Roumieh’s convicts ward on March 31, which prompted the prison’s guards to seize it.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has revealed that the Qatari delegation that visited Lebanon had stressed that Doha “has no candidates.”

Qatar rather supports “the idea of having a program and a roadmap,” Bassil said in an interview with al-Joumhouria newspaper, noting that “an integrated plan consists of a president, a premiers and a rescue plan.”

Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh is so close to securing the 65 votes needed for his election as president, minister Ziad Makari said.

Makari added that what Franjieh cares about is to be elected with a national consensus.

A “day of prayer and contemplation” that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had called for, started Wednesday at Beit Anya in Harissa.

Fifty-three Christian MPs attended the spiritual meeting, that aims at unifying and connecting the Christian blocs amid a severe presidential crisis.

A French judicial delegation will return in Lebanon on April 24, media reports said.

The report said that the delegation has asked Judge Charbel Abu Samra to question on its behalf Riad Salameh's brother, Raja, and his associate Marianne Hoayek on April 25.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has opened the door for the municipal elections nominations starting Wednesday April 5 in the North, April 12 in Mount Lebanon, April 19 in Beirut and Bekaa and April 26 in the South.

The municipal elections will start on May 7 in the North, on May 14 in Mount Lebanon, on May 21 in Beirut and in Bekaa, and on May 28 in the South, Mawlawi said Monday, as he urged the government to secure the necessary funds and complete the administrative preparations.