“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” — George Orwell

While our heads hit the pillow, our troops in Iraq continue their raid on insurgent strongholds near the Iraqi-Syria border as part of Operation Matador.

Milblogger Chester is late-night, liveblogging the operation and promises a map or two later into the night/morning.

Also watching: John Hinderaker at Power Line, Wretchard at The Belmont Club, Bill Roggio, Donald Sensing, Blackfive…

The Washington Post reports:

By daybreak, clashes had waned, as insurgents who had suffered heavy casualties in recent days retreated to safe houses in the communities at the western edge of Anbar province, according to Col. Bob Chase, operations chief for the 2nd Marine Division. Chase, the Marine officer, said local people were supporting the Americans’ efforts. “We are getting a lot of information from the locals in the area and a very positive reception. They are giving up locations of where these people are hiding out, and each one drives another operation,” he said.

In Washington, Lt. Gen. James T. Conway said three Marines had been killed and fewer than 20 wounded in the campaign. Conway said insurgents were standing and fighting rather than fleeing. “This is a determined enemy,” he said. “He has the skill and the ordnance, the weapons to be able to resist fiercely, as we’re seeing here.”

Winds of Change has more.