With U.S. and Israeli strikes continuing against Iran, pro-regime protesters in other countries are beginning to lash out. In Pakistan, hundreds of people gathered outside the Karachi-based American consulate in response to the killing of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and things quickly escalated.
Videos showed the Islamists first breaching the main gate and then using pieces of wood and various tools to breach the inner part of the compound.
Related: Trump Warns Iran That Retaliation Would Be Very Costly
"protesters" attempting to break into the consulate to shake the Americans hands, right? pic.twitter.com/jCp0WkKW6m
— Kfir-Ariel (@Kfir_Ariel) March 1, 2026
US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan earlier today pic.twitter.com/4xkj50cjHV
— AlexandruC4 (@AlexandruC4) March 1, 2026
At some point, the mob pushed too far into the perimeter, and defensive gunfire erupted. Both Pakistani security forces and U.S. Marines were on the scene to protect the consulate, and it wasn't immediately clear if both groups opened fire or just one or the other. According to reports, 10 people were killed, with dozens more wounded.
At least nine people are dead and more than two dozen injured after violent clashes outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the diplomatic compound in a sharp escalation of anti-American demonstrations.
The unrest followed reports that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, sparking anger among Shiite Muslims in Pakistan.
Witnesses told The Associated Press that many of the protesters were Shiite Muslims who expressed outrage over Khamenei’s reported death and alleged U.S. involvement. Protesters chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans, and attempted to breach the consulate’s perimeter.
At least six people killed, several others injured amid unrest and clashes outside U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. https://t.co/bzvdJgON8a pic.twitter.com/p8BOaR5FZY
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 1, 2026
Some on the left oddly tried to compare the situation to Benghazi, but notably, no Americans were harmed in this situation. Preparations to protect embassies and consulates in these hostile areas were no doubt taken over the last few months. Further, the Pakistani president, no matter how much he praises now-dead Khamenei, wants no part in angering the United States.
Some in the Pakistani government did condemn the shooting, though.
Pakistani senator Allama Raja Nasir: The firing by personnel of the United States Marine Corps on unarmed demonstrators at Karachi Consulate is condemnable in the strongest terms.
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 1, 2026
This isn't complicated. Don't storm American consulates, and no one will be hurt. Some lines simply can't be crossed, no matter how outraged Islamists in places like Pakistan get that Iran's terror regime is being decapitated. Given that the mob was allowed to breach the gate without consequence, it's obvious some restraint was shown. The moment they went too far, though, action had to be taken.
Let this be a lesson to any other pro-Islamist groups looking to lash out. If you do so by attacking Americans, you will pay a heavy, perhaps permanent price. The Trump administration isn't the Biden or Obama administration, and they aren't playing around.
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