The US rescue mission to extract a wounded F-15E weapons systems officer from Iran lasted 45 hours and 56 minutes, according to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The operation commenced shortly after the jet was downed by Iranian forces, with continuous coordination among national security officials. President Donald Trump characterized the mission as one of the most daring in US history. US commandos successfully infiltrated Iranian territory at night, navigating a 7,000-foot (2,100-meter) ridge to reach the stranded airman. However, the mission faced complications, including mechanical failures of two MC-130 aircraft, which hampered the extraction process and delayed the operation. Iranian officials have labeled the mission a deception, suggesting it may have been an attempt to steal enriched uranium. They also claimed that several US aircraft were destroyed during the operation, while US troops destroyed their own disabled equipment to prevent sensitive technology from falling into enemy hands.