Ian Cobain | South Waziristan, Pakistan | November 18

The Guardian - Two young British men have been killed in US drone strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan's tribal belt, according to reports from the country. The pair, both Muslims from London, are reported to have been killed in separate drone strikes two weeks apart in South Waziristan.

One of the men has been named as Ibrahim Adam, 24, who fled from the UK with his brother four years ago, while both were the subject of control orders. The second is said to be Mohammed Azmer Khan, 38, the brother of another British Muslim, Abdul Jabbar, who was killed in a drone attack last year.

The Foreign Office was unable to confirm the deaths on Friday but said: "We are aware of reports and looking into them further."

Adam's father said: "We can confirm that we have heard that our son has been killed in a drone strike."

He said the family regarded him as having been "executed" without having committed any crime. "We now wish to be left alone and grieve for our son."

Reports from the region suggest the number of suspected militants being killed by missiles fired by unmanned US aircraft may be escalating sharply.