Britain's defense ministry says five soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defense says the five _ three from the Grenadier Guards and two from the Royal Military Police _ died from gunshot wounds. They were wounded during an attack on Tuesday in the Nad-e'Ali district of the country's volatile Helmand Province.

The names of the men have not been released, but their families have been informed.

The defense ministry said Wednesday that the incident is under investigation.

Since the start of operations in October 2001, 229 British forces personnel have died in the country.