On 9 September 2011, an army of Al-Shabaab fighters attacked the Somali town of Elwaq, resulting in the deaths of 12 soldiers. Within 8 hours, the Islamists army claimed they had full control of Elwaq and that the remaining Somali soldiers fled the town. The next day, Somali troops attempted to recapture the town from Islamists militants. After hours of fighting, the Islamists reportedly fled the town on technicals. Al-Shabaab claimed that they killed 70 Somali soldiers and that they captured 10 military vehicles.^[1] The bodies of 30 Islamists were later discovered by the army, the dead including 8 children.

Battle of Elwaq
Part of the War in Somalia (2009-present)
Date September 9–10, 2011 Location Elwaq, Somalia Result Somali Government Victory Somalia retakes town from Islamists
Belligerents
Somalia Somali Army  Kenya	Al-Shabaab
Strength
140	Unknown
Casualties and losses
70 soldiers killed, 10 technicals (Al-Shabaab claim)	30 killed