U.S. Marines opened fire on demonstrators who stormed the American consulate in Karachi over the weekend, two U.S. officials said on Monday, marking a rare use of force at a diplomatic mission and raising tensions in Pakistan amid widespread unrest over the killing of Iran’s leader.
Ten people were killed on Sunday after protesters breached the outer wall of the U.S. Consulate compound in Karachi. The unrest followed reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in strikes on Iran.
According to the two U.S. officials, it remains unclear whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. They also said they did not know whether other security personnel — including private contractors or local police — had also discharged weapons while defending the mission.
If confirmed, this would mark the first official acknowledgment that U.S. Marines were involved in firing at protesters during the incident.
A spokesperson for the provincial government, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, said only that “security” personnel had opened fire, without specifying which force was responsible.
Daily security at U.S. diplomatic posts is typically handled by private security contractors and host-nation forces. The reported involvement of U.S. Marines highlights the severity of the threat perceived at the consulate.
Pakistan, home to the world’s second-largest Shi’ite population after Iran, has witnessed widespread protests following the strikes on Iran. Authorities imposed a nationwide ban on large public gatherings on Monday as demonstrations spread across major cities. At least 26 people have reportedly died nationwide in protest-related violence.
On Sunday, protesters outside the United States Consulate General Karachi chanted anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. Reuters reporters at the scene reported hearing sustained gunfire and seeing tear gas deployed in nearby streets.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show at least one protester firing a weapon toward the consulate, while injured demonstrators fled amid the chaos. A Karachi police official told Reuters that shots were fired from within the consulate compound.
The United States Marine Corps referred inquiries to the broader U.S. military, which in turn directed questions to the State Department. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Shi’ite community leaders have called for further demonstrations in Lahore and Karachi despite the nationwide ban.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan is located in Islamabad, with additional consulates in Peshawar and Lahore. Security has been tightened around all U.S. diplomatic facilities. Roads leading to the Karachi consulate were blocked off, and heavy police deployments were visible around American missions in Lahore and Islamabad.