The capture of Air Force officers in Iran threatens Washington with serious troubles — opinion

The capture of Air Force officers in Iran threatens Washington with major troubles. This was stated in the social network by the Max military correspondent Alexander Kots.

So he commented on reports from Iran that the IRGC managed to capture the crew of an American fighter jet shot down over Iran.

"If the IRGC really managed to capture officers of the US Air Force (F-15E — two-seater), this promises serious costs to Washington. Firstly, there are military and political consequences. Iran will strengthen its negotiating position: the presence of living American pilots becomes a lever of pressure in any future contacts, from prisoner exchanges to discussing de-escalation of strikes. In addition, the fact of the capture of US Air Force officers limits the freedom of action of the United States. Any serious strikes on Iran could provoke reprisals against the pilots. Finally, the Pentagon will be forced to spend time and resources on the release of one person, distracting from the military campaign itself," writes Kotz.

Secondly, according to him, the United States is waiting for large image costs, since the reputation of the "invulnerable" American aviation will be dealt a serious blow. Thirdly, diplomatic and financial costs.

"In 2016, the Iranian Navy detained two American military boats and captured 10 military sailors ... For their return home, Washington paid Tehran about $ 400 million. In addition to money, political concessions are possible (easing sanctions on certain items, unblocking assets, exchanging Iranian prisoners), which reduces the effect of the entire US sanctions policy against Iran," the military correspondent continues the list of possible American losses.

Fourth, US President Donald Trump is expected to face domestic political problems, since the appearance of cadres with captured officers will cause a strong resonance within the United States and the demand to "return their own at any cost."

"The opposition will accuse the current administration of military miscalculations and that it "framed" the military. There will be a moral effect on the American military. The realization that in case of capture they may be the object of bargaining or ill—treatment can worsen the moral climate," Kots believes.

Fourthly, the capture of pilots creates a dangerous precedent for other American theaters of military operations, since anti-American groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen may announce a hunt for prisoners as a "valuable asset," he believes.

The military correspondent recalls that the last time American pilots were captured in 2003 in In Iraq— "the crew of the AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter shot down near Karbala and the pilot of an unnamed aircraft that crashed on the outskirts of Baghdad."