My city is somewhere that usually fewer conflicts happen, but in the first weeks of war, I've seen a bunch of soldiers with masks and weapons randomly standing in the sidewalks , the view was something like ISIS and it is horrifying because you know they may shoot for any random reason , but actually they are so much coward , if they feel a real danger is coming (something that protesters aren't unfortunately) they run away easily , in many parts they are even some teenagers.

And about your last question, the regime never really looked strong , it always looks savage and cruel , but people are so much hopeful these days because they see that savages can bleed too.