Lejay is located in theBaghran valley, in Helmand Province.
A skirmish occurred on the morning of February 10, 2003 outsideLejay, a small village in the northern, mountainous part ofHelmand Province,Afghanistan. The village is in theBaghran valley, and one of the few highways in Afghanistan passes through it.American intelligence analysts assert that the village is the focus of theopium trade.
Vehicles approaching the village report being fired on. In response American forces mobilized hundreds of troops to comb the country surrounding the village inOperation Eagle Fury. The Operation mobilized dozens of coalition warplanes.
In 2004 the Summary of Evidence memos prepared for theCombatant Status Review Tribunals of the captives apprehended following the initial shooting incident offered a different account.
An ambush occurred around dawn on February 10, 2003.[1][2][3][4][5]
American forces saw five shooters, who retreated into nearby caves, when the forces on the ground called in air support.
The Summary of Evidence memos prepared for the villagers who were sent toGuantanamo, on the other hand:
Said that the American vehicles were fired on at around 10:30 am.
That American forces saw the shooters escape in a white car.
That the American forces were not on a routine patrol, that they had set out to capture warlordRaes Abdul Wahed, described as the Taliban District Commander.[6]
