DAMASCUS, Syria — Russian troops who have deployed to Syria are reportedly "excited" and "optimistic" that they are leading an escalation of force in the region that will inevitably embroil their country in a decades-long quagmire, sources confirmed today.

The troops arrived last week to a newly constructed air base and are ready to begin their prolonged campaign of asymmetric warfare against a multitude of enemies, while also participating in operations alongside a large number of involved nations not seen since World War II, which includes the United States, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the U.K., Australia, France, Canada, as well as Trinidad and Tobago, which is supplying a large cache of advanced military hardware.

Earlier this week Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his troops via satellite, commending them for charging into an ill-advised campaign that will undoubtedly sap their nation of financial, material, and manpower resources for years to come.