After viewing many Youtube vids of tanks and armored vehicles getting blown up, I’d posit that Syria does not have many tank drivers left.
Seems that their type of urban warfare does not favor tanks when the enemy can fire RPGs downward from multistory buildings.
Not an expert, but that’s the impression I got.
Maybe not, but Russia does.
The videos you see of tanks in action in Syria are tanks rolling through cities, quickly taking pot shots, and quickly moving off. What you don’t see is infantry. You can hold ground without infantry.
Syria is as much as 74% Sunni. Trust that Assad (an Alewite) populated his officer corp with Shiites and Alewites (Shia sect). After all, Assad wouldn’t want a disgruntled Sunni pilot dropping a bomb on his palace. His infantry was probably reflects the society at large (majority Sunni) and have long since gone to fight with the rebels.
Assad is never going to take back control without infantry.