KABUL, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has wounded five civilians in Afghanistan's troubled Helmand province as the troops came in contact with insurgents, a press release of the alliance said on Saturday.

    "ISAF accidentally injured five locals in Helmand province, during an engagement with the Taliban Dec. 12," the press release added.

    The incident, according to the press release, occurred in Garmsir district on Friday when the troops patrolling the area were engaged from four different compounds with militants using small arms.

    It also added that all the five civilians received immediate medical care, before being transferred by helicopter to the ISAF hospital in Camp Bastion for further medical treatment.

    The international troops expressed sorrow over the incident by saying, "ISAF deeply regrets incidents where civilians are injured by its action."

    In a similar incident in southern Uruzgan province, two men and one woman were reportedly killed as the U.S.-led Coalition forces clashed with insurgents on Wednesday.

    Coalition forces conducting a night-time dismounted reconnaissance patrol in Deh Rawood district were ambushed on Dec.10 when the forces returned fire and successfully disengage from enemy contact, a press release of the troops said Saturday.

    There have been unconfirmed reports that two men and one woman may have been killed as a result of the engagement, the press release further added.

    Conflicts and Taliban-related violence have left more than 5,000 people dead so far this year in Afghanistan.