KABUL, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) killed 38 militants in the southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, an ISAF spokesman told Xinhua on Wednesday.

    "ISAF engaged with insurgents in three incidents in Zhari and Panjwai districts on Tuesday, killing altogether 38 of them," said Maj. Luke Knittig.

    ISAF air forces were called during the conflicts, said Knittig, adding there were no ISAF casualties.

    He also said there were "a small number of" reported civilian casualties in the air strikes, and ISAF is carrying out an investigation.

    Zhari and Panjwai districts, about 40 km west of Kandahar city, the provincial capital, is the birthplace of the fundamentalist Taliban movement and has been a stronghold of Taliban militants.

    The two districts were also the focus of a major ISAF military operation in September named Operation Medusa, during which ISAF said at least 500 Taliban insurgents were killed.

    Due to rising Taliban-linked violence this year, Afghanistan has plunged into the worst spate of bloodshed since the Taliban regime was toppled down nearly five years ago.

    Over 2,500 people, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in this volatile country this year.