KARACHI, PAKISTAN March 3, 2026 — US Marines guarding the American consulate in Karachi opened fire on demonstrators who stormed the compound on Sunday, killing at least 10 people amid angry protests over the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The violence erupted after hundreds of protesters — many from Pakistan’s large Shia Muslim community — breached the outer wall of the US Consulate General in Karachi, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Pakistani security forces deployed tear gas and blocked surrounding roads, but the situation escalated when consulate guards used lethal force, according to US officials cited by Reuters.
Al Jazeera first reported the incident citing Reuters, noting that it remains unclear exactly how many of the dead were struck by Marine gunfire versus other security measures. Local government spokesman Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani confirmed the clashes outside the consulate on Mai Kolachi Road.
The protests are part of widespread outrage across Pakistan following US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that killed Khamenei on February 28, 2026. Pakistan, home to the world’s second-largest Shia population, has seen deadly demonstrations in multiple cities, with the nationwide death toll from related clashes now exceeding 20 in some reports.
In a related development, the US Embassy in Islamabad announced the immediate cancellation of all visa appointments, citing the “current security situation” in the country. Pakistani authorities have since banned large public gatherings and deployed the military in some regions to maintain order.
This marks a rare use of lethal force by US troops at a diplomatic post and risks further straining relations between Washington and Islamabad. The situation remains tense, with roads around US missions in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad heavily guarded.
The story is developing. Life News Agency will provide updates as more details emerge from Reuters, local authorities and on-the-ground reports.
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