Despite propaganda coup of F-15 crew rescue, downing is reminder to US that Iran can fight back

Donald Trump will claim rescue as a triumph but 48-hour drama should be a caution against launching ground operation

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Donald Trump will inevitably claim the rescue of the second crew member of the downed F-15 fighter as a propaganda triumph, though the 48-hour drama is a reminder that an undefeated Iran is able to fight back and inflict costs on the US.

It also ought to be a caution for a White House still contemplating a ground operation in Iran whether to seize an island in the Persian Gulf – particularly if there a serious ambition to extract Iran’s highly enriched uranium from deep underground.