Taliban forces in this village executed anambush on a U.S. Special Forces Reconnaissance element, consisting of seven Green Beret detachments (A-Teams), on February 10, 2003. The subsequent battle, initiated by the ambush, lasted for 43 hours. During this engagement, a multitude of munitions were dropped by CAS (Close Air Support) ranging from 500 lbs to 2000 lbs. Several of the Green Berets received shrapnel and grazing wounds, but none were evacuated from the area. At least 43 Taliban insurgents were killed during the engagement.
The Americans rounded up dozens of prisoners following the battle.[1][2] By one account, the Americans rounded up 70 Afghans. Another account said they rounded up 40 Afghans. According to the evidence produced at theCombatant Status Review Tribunals, some of the prisoners were sent to theGuantanamo Bay detainment camp, inCuba.
Press reports of the military action in the neighborhood of Lejay
Coalition forces conducted an aerial campaign against the neighborhood of Lejay.[3]HajiPir Mohammad, the deputy governor ofHelmand, led a six-man investigative team to the region, to investigate villager's reports of a massive American aerial bombardment.[4][5]
Colonel Roger King, a US military spokesman, told reporters that the USSpecial Forces hunting the ambushers believed they were hunting between thirty and one hundred fighters. He informed reporters that American troops had found ammunition casings and empty rocket tubes. He called the reports of civilian casualties "unsupported". He stated that the US aerial bombardment had been confined to caves, and the ridgeline east and west of Lejay.
Press reports of the scale of the bombardment King reported were inconsistent.
On February 12, 2003, theNew York Times quoted King as acknowledging coalition forces dropping almost 20 2,000 pound bombs.[6]
On February 12, 2003, theSydney Morning Herald quoted King acknowledging"Close air support was requested, and coalition F-16s dropped five 500-pound bombs."[7]
On February 13, 2003,Reuters quoted King acknowledging that the US had dropped a single 2,000 pound bomb, and fired ten 105mm cannon rounds from anAC130aerial gunship.[4]
On February 13, 2003,The Guardian reported that the region had been subjected to an eight-hour bombardment, from a mixed force ofB1 andB52 bombers.[8]
On February 14, 2003, theBBC quoted King acknowledging that the coalition had dropped four 500 pound bombs.[9]
On December 16, 2006, theNew York Times reported:"Another returning Afghan, Haji Baridad, who said he did not know his age, spent five years in Guantánamo. He appeared disturbed and kept complaining that an Afghan translator took his money — 3,600 Pakistani rupees, or about $62 — when he was detained."[10][11][12]
Other captives apprehended on February 10, 2003, faced the allegation they were captured with a senior Taliban commander, named, alternatelyBaridad andBari Dad Khan.
Afghanistan