The reported death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following US and Israeli airstrikes has sparked intense protests among Shiite Muslim populations in Pakistan and Iraq. In Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, hundreds of pro-Iran demonstrators attempted to breach the outer walls of the US consulate on the first day of protests, resulting in at least nine deaths and 34 injuries, all due to gunfire. The Pakistani authorities confirmed that security personnel opened fire in response to the advancing crowd while ensuring that all consulate staff were safe.

Protests spread across other regions in Pakistan, where demonstrators waved black flags and shouted slogans calling for the overthrow of the US. In a notable incident in Skardu, located in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, protesters set fire to a UN office building. In Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of people gathered outside the US consulate, signaling the potential for continued unrest.

In reaction to the escalating protests, the Pakistani government has bolstered security in the capital, Islamabad, designating the city center as a 'Red Zone' and blocking all surrounding roads to prepare for any further unrest. Meanwhile, similar protests were reported in Iraq, where crowds gathered outside the US embassy in Baghdad, leading to clashes with police. The situation highlights the fraught geopolitical tensions surrounding Iranian influence and the Shiite population's response to perceived threats against their leadership.