US Marines opened fire on protesters who stormed the American consulate in Karachi on Sunday, according to two US officials, marking a rare and serious use of force at a diplomatic facility. The confrontation erupted after demonstrators breached the compound’s outer wall amid nationwide protests following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in military strikes on Iran. The incident immediately intensified tensions in Pakistan, where anger over the regional crisis has been mounting for days.
Ten people died during the violence when crowds pushed past barriers and entered the consulate’s outer perimeter, triggering a forceful response from security personnel. However, officials said it remains unclear whether bullets fired by the Marines directly struck or killed any of the victims. Authorities are also investigating whether private security contractors or local police officers discharged weapons while defending the mission during the chaotic confrontation.
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Provincial government spokesman Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani confirmed that “security” personnel opened fire but did not clarify which force was responsible for the fatal shots. Meanwhile, a senior Karachi police official stated that gunfire originated from inside the consulate premises as protesters attempted to advance further. Social media footage appeared to show at least one armed protester firing toward the compound, while injured demonstrators fled as gunshots and tear gas filled surrounding streets.
The involvement of US Marines highlights how seriously American officials assessed the threat to the consulate, since routine security operations at diplomatic missions are usually handled by private contractors and local forces. Pakistan, home to the world’s second-largest Shi’ite population after Iran, witnessed widespread unrest after news of Khamenei’s death circulated. As a result, authorities imposed a nationwide ban on large public gatherings after at least 26 people were reported dead in related protests across the country.
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Furthermore, roads leading to the Karachi consulate were sealed with heavy police deployments, and similar security measures were implemented around US diplomatic missions in Islamabad and Lahore. Despite the restrictions, Shi’ite community leaders have called for further demonstrations in major cities, signaling continued volatility. US military officials redirected media inquiries to the State Department, which has not yet issued a formal public response regarding the Marines’ reported actions.