Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) [representational image].Reuters

The Islamic State has stoned to death two young men suspected to be gay, in what is said to be the group's first execution for alleged homosexuality.

ISIS, as the jihadist group is commonly referred to as, killed the two youths separately in the Syrian province of Deir el-Zour on Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The two men were aged 18 and 20.

Islamic State militants claimed to have found 'evidence' in the 20-year-old youth's mobile phone which were had videos of him "practicing indecent acts with other males", and stoned him to death in Mayadeen in Deir el-Zour near the border with Iraq, according to AFP, Al-Arabiya News reported.

The group killed the second man in the main city after claiming he was gay, reportedly without evidence.

Activists have accused the Islamic State of using homosexuality as a pretext to kill the men who had opposed the group.

The Islamic State is known for its gruesome public executions and has executed many, including women, by stoning ever since it formed its caliphate in June this year.