At least 9 protestors were killed in clashes after a mob of hundreds stormed the US consulate in Pakistan’s Karachi on Sunday following a joint US-Israel airstrike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Protesters were seen vandalising the property and setting parts of the building on fire.
According to news agency Associated Press, 36 others were wounded after police and paramilitary forces used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Sindh home minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar sought an immediate report on the situation from Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Azad Khan, according to a statement from his office.
The unrest also caused significant traffic disruptions. In an update issued around 11 am, Karachi Traffic Police said both sides of the road from Sultanabad Traffic Section towards Mai Kolachi had been closed due to the protest, Dawn reported.
Meanwhile, authorities continued to monitor the situation as tensions remained high in the port city following developments linked to the Iranian leader’s killing.
This came hours after Iran confirmed that Khamenei was killed in airstrikes carried out by Israel and the United States — dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”.
Iran acknowledged the 86-year-old leader’s death at his Tehran office, a development that has thrown the future of the Islamic Republic into question and raised the risk of regional instability.
In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states on Sunday after vowing massive revenge for Khamenei’s killing.
Iran’s Cabinet said the “great crime will never go unanswered”, and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened to launch its “most intense offensive operation” yet, targeting Israeli and American bases.
Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following Khamenei’s death, according to state media. In Shia Islam, the 40th day after death (Arba’een) holds spiritual significance.
The Supreme Leader’s office has declared a period of national mourning, with flags at half-mast and public gatherings planned to pay respects, marking the end of a 37-year chapter in the Islamic Republic’s history.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said that the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could create a pathway to diplomacy.
While talking to CBS News, Trump expressed confidence in the results so far, calling the joint airstrikes by US and Israel “a great day for this country, a great day for the world.”
He also warned Iran to not plan any attack on US and Israeli military bases following its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini death.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump said that if Iran attacks US, then US will “hit them with a force that has never been seen before.”
“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before.They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before! Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.
The United States launched nearly 900 strikes within the first 12 hours of a joint operation with Israel.
