Shooting down of US jets marks a potential turning point in the war
What had been a largely asymmetric air campaign with US and Israeli air power pounding Iranian military sites, air defences, and infrastructure. Has now produced a symbolic and potentially strategic setback for Washington.
If Iran is watching the domestic and international response to a single downed fighter jet, they might figure out that American deaths are needed to win this war. Iran will quickly realize that killing Americans is the way to cook Trump's goose. That is a hard realization for the people of Iran, who put out a reward that the American pilot be captured ALIVE. Killing is an insult to their dignity.
Trump talked about delayed courage. For everyone's benefit I hope he gets some. To avert American deaths. It would be the honorable thing to do.