(Web Desk) – Demonstrations over the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran turned violent in parts of Pakistan and Iraq, while Iranian exiles in Western capitals celebrated the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
At least 23 protesters were killed in Pakistan, officials said. Ten deaths were reported in Karachi, where security personnel at the US consulate opened fire after demonstrators breached an outer security wall. Eleven people were killed in Skardu, where a crowd torched a local office of the United Nations. Two fatalities were confirmed in Islamabad during clashes with police.
Protesters in Karachi chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, including “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” while setting vehicles ablaze and confronting security forces. Authorities reported 34 injuries and launched an investigation into the shootings. The US consulate confirmed its staff were safe.
In Iraq’s capital Baghdad, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of pro-Iran demonstrators outside the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the US embassy is located.
Elsewhere, reactions were divided. In Paris, thousands of Iranian exiles celebrated the developments, waving flags of Iran’s pre-revolution monarchy and symbols of Western nations. Some attendees expressed hopes for political change in Iran following years of authoritarian governance.
In northern Nigeria’s Kano region, home to a significant Shi’ite population, peaceful rallies expressed solidarity with Iran, featuring Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei.
Governments in Pakistan condemned the violence and urged restraint. Interior officials stressed the importance of peaceful protest and announced inquiries into the Karachi and Skardu incidents.
The unrest underscores the deep global divisions over the Middle East conflict, with protests and celebrations reflecting contrasting political and ideological perspectives.
