Weird how no real details of the Op have been released but somehow we know for certainty that the C-130s had "wheels stuck in mud", so that little snippet was released to be amplified by various people but no other real details. Funny heh?
This was not a defeat for Iran. If US had air superiority over say all of Baluchistan Pak Army would struggle to find a downed airmen before US could knowing their surveillence capabilities and the pilots tracking/emitting kit. No shame here.
Did US do a great job getting him out despite the massive man hunt? Yes. Both things can be true at the same time.
For me the big takeaway lesson know if the massive cost to rescue one airman. US will now have to rethink the bombing strategy as this could well happen again, and they simply cannot afford to do missions like this on a regular basis.
My guess is 2 C-130s got caught on the ground by heavy fire and were destroyed or even (ala Eagle Claw) a big ground accident.
For sure there will be US casualties we may not know about, but if 2 SF C-130s and 1 SF Blackhawk and 1 SF Littlebird were lost, that is a hell of a heavy price.