A NATO air strike in southern Afghanistan targeting suspected militants mistakenly killed four civilians, including two women and a child, the military alliance said Tuesday. The incident on Monday in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand province came after ISAF admitted killing three women in a bungled raid in the east of the country in February, having initially denied involvement. "Insurgents were using the compound as a firing position when combined forces, unaware of the possible presence of civilians, directed air assets against it," the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. "Later, once they were able to enter the compound, combined forces found four dead civilians -- two women, an elderly man and a child -- inside," a statement read. "Four males, suspected insurgents, were also found dead inside the compound."