The downing of two US fighter jets by Iranian forces has sparked echoes of the American military intervention in Iraq in 2003, a grave misadventure that was later seen as a costly mistake.
The last time a US fighter jet was shot down in a conflict was in Iraq in 2003, when an A-10 Thunderbolt II was brought down by an Iraqi surface-to-air missile.
Iran's ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump's claims that it has been "completely decimated" has raised concerns about the US military's capabilities in the region.
The attacks come in the sixth week after US and Israeli strikes first hit Iran on February 28, with Trump claiming at different times that Tehran's ability to launch missiles and drones is "dramatically curtailed".
Iran shot down a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet, with one service member getting rescued and the search still underway for a second, US officials said.
The pilot of a US A-10 attack aircraft managed to eject after being hit by Iranian defence forces, but the plane crashed in Kuwait.
Experts say the downing of the US planes highlights the limitations of the US military's air superiority in the region, with Iran's mainstream military having anti-aircraft capabilities that are unmatched by insurgent groups.
The US Central Command said American forces have flown more than 13,000 missions in the Iran war while striking more than 12,300 targets, but the Iranian military remains a stubborn foe.
Analysts point to the similarities between the US campaign against Iran and the invasion of Iraq in 2003, with both involving a rhetoric of "imminent nuclear threat" and need for a "regime change".
