WASHINGTON: United States Marines opened fire during an attempted breach of the US consulate in Karachi over the weekend, two American officials confirmed on Monday, in what marks a rare use of force at a diplomatic facility and signals a potentially dangerous escalation amid nationwide unrest.
The violence erupted on Sunday when demonstrators stormed the outer perimeter of the US consulate compound following the reported assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. At least ten people were killed during the confrontation, according to initial reports.
The US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said preliminary information did not clarify whether gunfire from the Marines resulted in casualties. They added that it remained uncertain whether other security personnel — including private contractors or local law enforcement assigned to protect the mission — also discharged weapons.
The disclosure represents the first confirmation by US authorities that Marines were involved in firing upon demonstrators during the incident.
A spokesperson for the provincial government, Sukhdev Assardas Hemnani, stated that “security personnel” had opened fire but did not specify which force was responsible.
Typically, day-to-day security operations at American diplomatic posts are handled by private security firms and host-country forces. The reported involvement of Marines underscores the severity of the perceived threat during the breach.
The unrest forms part of a broader wave of protests that has swept Pakistan in response to developments in Iran. Authorities imposed a nationwide ban on large public gatherings on Monday after demonstrations spread across multiple cities. According to official figures, 26 people have died in protest-related violence countrywide.
Chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, protesters had gathered outside the Karachi mission as gunfire and tear gas filled surrounding streets. Journalists at the scene reported hearing sustained shots and witnessing injured demonstrators being carried away.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show at least one protester discharging a firearm in the direction of the consulate, while others fled amid the chaos. A senior Karachi police official told Reuters that gunfire originated from within the consulate compound.
The US Marine Corps referred inquiries to the broader US military establishment, which in turn directed questions to the State Department. The State Department had not issued a formal response at the time of reporting.
Despite the nationwide ban, fresh demonstrations have been called in major urban centres including Lahore and Karachi.
The United States maintains its embassy in Islamabad, along with consulates in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. Following Sunday’s violence, roads leading to the Karachi consulate were sealed off amid heightened security. Similar precautionary measures were implemented around US diplomatic facilities in Lahore and the capital.
