THE United States military did not warn Australian authorities ahead of the Predator drone strike which killed two Australians in Yemen, the Department of Foreign Affairs says.

In the first known case of drones being used against Australians accused of being Muslim extremists, Washington deployed the drone on November 19, killing two Australians including Townsville’s Christopher Harvard.

A senior counterterrorism source claimed the men were “foot soldiers” for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda’s regional franchise based in Yemen.

Mr Harvard was one of five people killed. He was buried in Yemen last week after the family’s pleas to the Federal Government to bring him home were unsuccessful.

It has been reported US authorities notified Australian officials that Australian citizens could have been injured in the strike, which was part of an ongoing campaign by the US and Yemen governments to stifle extremist activities.

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It is understood the second man killed in the attack was Abu Habib al Yemeni, who held dual-citizenship with New Zealand and Australia.

A family member said Mr Harvard, who had changed his name to Abu Salma al Russi after converting to the Muslim faith several years ago, had travelled to the area about two years ago to be involved in charity work and teach English.

They said Mr Harvard, who was in his late 20s, had planned on visiting Mecca to further his faith, giving up alcohol and smoking after his conversion.

“The government wouldn’t bring them home, they flatly refused,” the family member said. They said the circumstances had constantly shifted around Mr Harvard’s death, the family initially told he was killed when a mosque was bombed.

“The federal government have just said so many different stories you just don’t know … it’s got to the point of having no idea of what was going on.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said there had been no Australian involvement in the operation that killed the men.

“There was no Australian involvement in, or prior awareness of, the operation,” a spokesman said.

“The security situation in Yemen is highly volatile. Since 2010, DFAT has advised Australians against all travel to Yemen due to the very high threat environment. Australia does not have an embassy or consulate in Yemen and DFAT’s capacity to deliver consular assistance there is extremely limited.”

He said police and consular officials in Australia, and in New Zealand, contacted the next of kin when the deaths were confirmed.