Damascus: Mid-day news update 5-16-13

The mid-day news update is provided by Shahed News, a network of vetted Syrian citizen journalists providing independent, accurate and reliable news from Damascus and its suburbs.

Damascus:

* A shell lands near al-Nidal stadium in Sinaa.

* Zahira eyewitness says the regime is using detainees arrested two days ago to dig a tunnel in the municipality building.

* Al-Abed St. closes for the second day in a row.

* Heavy clashes in the district of Barzeh.

Outer Damascus:

* Heavy rocket bombardment on the town of Midaa results in burning hundreds of square kilometers of farms, and large-scale property damage.

* Heavy rocket and artillery bombardment on Moadamiyah, as clashes between the FSA and regime forces occur on the southwest frontline.

* FSA battalions declare their participation in al-Forqan Battle, after they capture the town of Kaysa near Otaybah.

* Army Brigade 65 in Hafir al-Foka targets the towns of Rankous, Talfita and Housh Arab with artillery.