This is the first case of a US jet being downed in this war - and it matters
This is the first known case of a US fighter jets being shot down over Iran during this conflict. Three F-15Es were shot down by accidental friendly fire by Kuwaiti air defences earlier in the war.
Why does that matter?
Firstly, this comes after Donald Trump and his defence secretary Pete Hegseth have both repeatedly suggested that the US has effectively won this war. Hegseth and military commanders have spoken of "air superiority" and how degraded Iran’s air defences are. Trump had claimed that Iran "can’t do a thing" about US planes flying over its country.
That rhetoric now seems over-confident. This shows that Iran still retains - albeit likely a limited and very reduced - capacity to defend its skies.
Secondly, this comes as the US has been threatening further escalation while also talking up hopes for a deal. This could be used as fuel to accelerate that US escalation in retaliation.
It also may increase nerves among the American public that more US service people are being impacted by this war, at a time when the Trump administration has reportedly been mulling a potential ground invasion - which would increase the risk to US personnel significantly.
Verified video, pictured above, appears to show a US search and rescue operation in southern Iran. The US is yet to comment on the reports.
www.bbc.com
Iran continues to defy expectations. We have likely underestimated their strategic abilities and resolve, especially as this war shatters several prevailing myths. The downing of an F-15 is a serious development that shouldn't be dismissed. It remains a fascinating case study: exactly how they did it will be the question on everyone’s mind. As the technical details of the shoot down emerge, Trump remains in a deeply precarious position. The 'Stone Age' threat will come to haunt him badly.