CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - As many as seven explosions struck the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula early Saturday, targeting several hotels and killing at least 36 people, witnesses and police said.

NPR: Deadly Blasts Rip Egyptian Resort of Sharm el-Sheik

Israel has long been concerned that the Sinai Peninsula is fast becoming ungoverned space: a Bedouin-dominated mini-state beyond Cairo's control, with various radical Palestinian groups often linked to local Bedouin extremists operating at will.

BBC: Sinai attack marks step change in border violence

All three men, described as jihadists, had been in touch with an al-Qaeda militant in Pakistan as well as another in the Sinai peninsula, the minister said.

BBC: Egypt 'al-Qaeda linked plot on Western embassy' foiled

As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Monday, Egyptian authorities are not asserting their sovereignty in Sinai and jihadists from Hamas, al-Qaida and other groups are inundating the peninsula.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The real Egyptian revolution

The fighting started Friday, after Israel assassinated the militant leader of the Popular Resistance Committee, claiming the Hamas-affiliated militia had planned to stage an attack on Israel via the Sinai Peninsula.

WSJ: Israeli Truce With Gaza Militants Takes Hold

Sinai, Egypt (CNN) -- Ten Yemeni militants infiltrated Egyptian soil two months ago and trained local Jihadi cells in the Sinai peninsula, a security official said Friday.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS