to recover a single service member who would otherwise need to tolerate board and lodging provided by Iran. Iran is not the Taliban, each captured crew member adds to the bargaining power of Iran, but each one harmed while in captivity is adverse to the case Iran appears to be making. The case being made? Iran is not Israel. This case is being made by Israel, much to my frustration.
The Iranian treatment of the US hostages 46 years ago was not exactly a model of compassion and kindness - and they were civilians.
Getting their military bombed out of existence on a daily basis is not exactly conducive to good treatment of captured enemy.