At least 22 people dead after pro-Iran protests in Pakistan and Iraq

"At least 22 people are dead following pro-Iran demonstrations in Pakistan in which hundreds of people marched on the US consulate in Karachi. Security forces in Iraq have also fired teargas at protesters who tried to storm the US embassy in Baghdad. As anger boiled over after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a crowd of demonstrators in Karachi chanted against the offensive before entering the reception hall of the consulate building and lighting a small fire."

"The 86-year-old Shia Islam cleric was Iran's head of state for 36 years and oversaw the security policy that created a network of Iranian-backed militias across the region. Iran-aligned groups, such as Hamas, the Houthis, Iraqi militias and Hezbollah all issued statements of condolences and solidarity with Khamenei, who they praised as a mujahid—a religious warrior—and a martyr."

"[Khamenei] was leading the march of jihad and resistance against the tyrannical and oppressive American and Israeli forces, enemies of religion and humanity, the secretary general of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said in a statement. Under Khamenei, Iran trained, equipped and invested in gro[wing networks of Iranian-backed militias across the region]."

Following US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, violent pro-Iran demonstrations erupted across Pakistan and Iraq. In Karachi, hundreds of protesters marched on the US consulate, entering its reception hall and lighting a fire while chanting against the offensive. Security forces opened fire, killing ten people with over 30 injured. Additional violence in Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad resulted in 12 more deaths. In Iraq, security forces used teargas against pro-Iran protesters attempting to storm Baghdad's Green Zone housing the US embassy. Khamenei, an 86-year-old Shia cleric who led Iran for 36 years, oversaw security policies creating networks of Iranian-backed militias. Iran-aligned groups including Hamas, Houthis, Iraqi militias, and Hezbollah issued statements praising Khamenei as a religious warrior and martyr.

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