Officials say Syria has asked Turkey for defense support amid sectarian clashes

ANKARA Turkey AP Syria s interim administration has requested Turkey s assistance to strengthen its defense capabilities Turkish agents declared following sectarian violence over the past two weeks that increased tensions in Syria and drew intervention by Israel The defense ministry representatives who spoke on condition of anonymity according to procedures stated Wednesday that Syria has also sought assistance to combat terrorist organizations including the Islamic State group Turkey which has long expressed readiness to assist Syria was working toward providing training advisory services and technical patronage to help strengthen Syria s defense limit the functionaries added Syrian authorities could not be directly reached for comment Source