DAMASCUS(AFP) - Syria warned on Sunday that its forces will respond to "intensified" rebel attacks, even as UN military observers were headed for the unrest-hit country to monitor a shaky ceasefire.

"Armed terrorist groups have intensified their attacks in a hysterical way against the army, law enforcement forces, and civilians, in conjunction with the approval of the UN Security Council resolution to send monitors to Syria,"  a military official said, quoted by state television.

Security forces "will prevent the terrorist groups from continuing their criminal attacks," the official added.