ASIATODAY.ID, KARACHI – A wave of pro-Iran protests has erupted across several countries following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israeli missile strike in Tehran.
The death of the 86-year-old cleric, who had led Iran since 1989, has sparked outrage particularly in nations with significant Shia Muslim populations.
Pakistan Turns Violent, US Consulate Targeted
In Pakistan, tensions escalated dramatically in Karachi, where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to storm the US Consulate compound.
Clashes broke out as security forces fired tear gas and live rounds to disperse the crowd. Between eight and ten people were reported killed, with dozens more injured. Rescue officials indicated that several victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Videos circulating on social media show protesters smashing windows inside the diplomatic compound, while the American flag continued to fly above the barbed-wire-secured perimeter.
US officials said they could not immediately confirm whether the fatal shots were fired by US Marines, private security contractors, or local Pakistani police. The involvement of US Marine personnel suggests that the consulate considered the situation a severe threat to diplomatic staff.
Protests also erupted in Lahore, Skardu, and Islamabad. Pakistan, home to one of the world’s largest Shia populations, has seen particularly intense reactions to the developments in Tehran.
Iraq’s Green Zone Reinforced
In Iraq, security was tightened around Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the US Embassy.
Hundreds of demonstrators dressed in black gathered near the perimeter, chanting slogans and demanding the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi territory.
Security forces responded with tear gas after protesters reportedly threw stones toward the compound. Officials said attempts to breach the area had so far been repelled, though tensions remain high.
Kashmir Sees Mass Demonstrations
In Srinagar, in Indian-administered Kashmir, thousands of Shia Muslims joined emotional street demonstrations. Protesters waved red, black, and yellow flags while chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.
Although charged with emotion, most of the rallies in India remained largely peaceful. Demonstrators described Khamenei’s death as “martyrdom” and vowed continued resistance against what they called foreign aggression.
Rising Global Tensions
The reported killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not only shaken Iran but also intensified geopolitical tensions worldwide. As the confrontation between the United States and Israel against Iran deepens, solidarity protests across borders suggest that the conflict is spilling beyond the battlefield and into the streets of multiple nations.
With chants of “Death to America” echoing in several cities and governments tightening security, the world now watches closely: will the unrest subside, or is this the beginning of a broader and more volatile global escalation? (AT Network)
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