At least 27 dead, more than 400 wounded in explosions near Tripoli, Lebanon, Sunni mosques

Hezbollah is giving some payback. Where's the UN on this? Or has it simply become Israel's full time building permit reviewer.

(CNN) -- Two powerful explosions ripped through neighborhoods near mosques in the northern Lebanon city of Tripoli Friday. At least 27 people died and more than 400 were wounded, according to the health ministry.

Heavy gunfire was heard following the blasts, Tripoli residents told CNN.

The Lebanese army said it had established a security cordon around the blast sites. The bombs caused "great material damage" in addition to the casualties, the army said.

The first blast occurred near al Taqwa mosque, which is led by a Sunni sheikh known for his links to Syrian rebels, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said.

The second, which occurred minutes later, happened near al Salam mosque, close to the residence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, as well as Samir Al-Jisr, a Sunni member of parliament and the former head of the country's Internal Security Forces, Ashraf Rifi.

Rifi is despised by Hezbollah and Lebanese politicians friendly to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

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