In the latest escalation of tensions in the Middle East, U.S. airstrikes on Friday targeted over 85 sites linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and associated militias. The retaliatory strikes, prompted by a drone attack that killed three U.S. Army soldiers in Jordan, resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people and injured several dozen others.

The strikes, which were carried out overnight, hit planned targets as well as unforeseen "dynamic targets," including a surface-to-air missile site and drone launch sites. An initial assessment found that the U.S. successfully hit its intended targets, according to a U.S. official.

Iran's foreign ministry condemned the strikes as another "adventurous and strategic mistake" by the United States, warning that it would only increase instability in the region. The spokesperson called for the UN Security Council to prevent further "illegal and unilateral U.S. attacks."

While Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Iran would not initiate a war, he emphasized that Iran would respond strongly to any attempts to bully the country. However, it remains unclear if Iran will launch a direct response to the recent escalation.

The airstrikes also added to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has been fueled by Israel's four-month-long war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran's spokesperson insisted that the strikes were intended to divert attention from Israel's actions in Gaza, attributing the root cause of tensions in the region to Israel's occupation and treatment of Palestinians.

In Iraq, some of the main Iranian-backed militias have vowed to continue fighting in support of Gaza. However, one group, Kataib Hezbollah, announced it would suspend attacks on American troops to avoid embarrassing the Iraqi government. Another Iraqi militia official hinted at possible deescalation while downplaying the U.S. strikes, stating that every action elicits a reaction but emphasizing their reluctance to escalate tensions further.

An Iraqi government spokesperson confirmed that the strikes near the Syrian border killed 16 people, including civilians. In Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 23 rank-and-file fighters were killed. The total casualties in Syria have not been officially disclosed by Syrian state media.

Meanwhile, Russia has criticized the U.S. airstrikes and called for the UN Security Council to investigate. Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson accused the U.S. of deliberately inflaming the conflict by continuously targeting facilities associated with pro-Iranian groups in both Iraq and Syria. Russia has requested a UN Security Council meeting on Monday to address the recent strikes.

With the U.S. administration choosing not to directly target Iran, former NATO Ambassador Kurt Volker suggests that the message being conveyed is for Iran to refrain from attacking American soil during an election year. Volker speculates that the intention is to signal to Iran that any attacks on U.S. personnel overseas will result in retaliatory strikes against their proxies.

The situation in the Middle East remains tense as the U.S. airstrikes have further heightened tensions in the region. As international actors and leaders respond to the recent developments, the focus now shifts to the potential consequences and whether further escalation can be avoided.

(Note: The generated article is a summary of the provided information and does not contain any additional analysis or opinion.