At least 22 people have died in protests across Pakistan and Iraq following the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes. In Karachi, hundreds of demonstrators marched on the US consulate, entering the reception hall and starting a small fire. Security forces opened fire, killing ten and injuring over 30 others, according to a local medical official.
Violence also erupted in other parts of Pakistan, with ten deaths reported in Gilgit-Baltistan and two in the capital, Islamabad. In Iraq, security forces fired teargas as hundreds of pro-Iran protesters attempted to storm the US embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone, throwing stones and waving flags.
The killing of Khamenei, who led Iran for 36 years and oversaw a network of regional militias, has sparked widespread anger across the Islamic world. Iran-aligned groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis issued statements of condolence, praising Khamenei as a martyr. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters gathered in Beirut's southern suburbs to mourn, while in Yemen, pro-Houthi media reported a 'million-person march' in support of Iran.
However, reactions have been mixed. In Syria, some celebrated the news, honking car horns and cheering. In Lebanon, opponents of Hezbollah privately welcomed Khamenei's death but avoided public displays. Most regional governments have remained silent, with official statements notably avoiding mention of the assassination.
