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

ANKARA Turkey AP Syria s interim cabinet has requested Turkey s endorsement to strengthen its defense capabilities Turkish functionaries noted following sectarian violence over the past two weeks that increased tensions in Syria and drew intervention by Israel The defense ministry executives who spoke on condition of anonymity according to procedures mentioned 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 endorsement to help strengthen Syria s defense threshold the leaders added Syrian functionaries could not be straightaway reached for comment Source