Violent protests sparked by the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have left at least 22 people dead across Pakistan and Iraq.
The unrest follows Iran’s official confirmation on Sunday morning that the 86-year-old leader was killed in a joint U.S. and Israeli airstrike on his residential compound in Tehran.
Khamenei, who served as Iran’s Supreme Leader for nearly 37 years, was reportedly targeted in a precision strike within his palace grounds.
Deadly Clashes in Pakistan
Protests turned lethal in Pakistan as demonstrators expressed outrage over the killing:
Karachi: A mob stormed the U.S. Consulate, managing to breach the reception area. Security forces opened fire to repel the crowd, resulting in 10 deaths and at least 30 injuries.
Gilgit-Baltistan: In separate incidents of unrest in the northern region, 10 more individuals were reported killed.
Unrest in Iraq’s Green Zone
In neighboring Iraq, the capital city of Baghdad saw intense demonstrations centered around the heavily fortified Green Zone:
Baghdad: Protesters attempted to march toward the U.S. Embassy. Security forces deployed lethal force to prevent a breach, resulting in two fatalities.
Background of the Strike
The assassination marks a seismic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Khamenei had been the ultimate authority in Iran since 1989.
The strike, attributed to U.S. and Israeli forces, occurred amid a massive aerial campaign that has seen retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.
Source: The Guardian
