Suicide bombings hit Lebanon village near Syria

Two waves of suicide bombings struck a mainly Christian village near Lebanon's border with war-ravaged Syria on Monday, killing and wounding several people before dawn and in the evening.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks which bore the hallmarks of jihadist organisations like the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.

At least five people were killed and 15 wounded in the pre-dawn attacks in the eastern village of Al-Qaa, in a hilly border area shaken by violence since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011.

The Lebanese Red Cross, which gave the morning toll, said three suicide bombers also died.

In the evening attacks, at least 13 people were wounded, the state-run National News Agency said, citing hospital officials.

A military source told AFP there were four suicide bombings in the latest violence.

At least one of them struck near a church, while two bombers detonated their explosives near an armoured personnel carrier and a military intelligence unit.

A security source said two of the attacks were near the municipality building in the centre of the village.

"Clashes are ongoing on the outskirts of the village between the Lebanese army and armed groups," after the bombings, another security source said.

The mayor of Al-Qaa, Bashir Matar, issued an urgent call to residents to stay indoors in televised remarks, warning more suicide bombers could be roaming the village.

Bashir Khodr, the governor of the Baalbek-Hermel region where Al-Qaa is located, barred Syrian refugees at a makeshift camp near Al-Qaa from entering the village.

"The security situation today is above all considerations," Khodr said in a statement to LBC television channel.

Al-Qaa, one of several border posts separating Lebanon and war-torn Syria, has been on edge since dawn when residents were brutally woken up by the sound of explosions.

At least four suicide bombers hit the village from about 4:20 am (0120 GMT), the army said.