Overview
- The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Karachi and Lahore cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6, citing the security situation.
- Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Marine Security Guards fired after protesters broke the Karachi consulate’s outer perimeter, a rare use of force at a U.S. diplomatic post.
- U.S. officials said it is not known whether Marine rounds struck anyone, and they could not confirm whether local police or private guards also fired.
- Protests over reported U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have turned deadly across Pakistan, with independent tallies placing fatalities at roughly two dozen.
- Pakistan reinforced security around diplomatic sites and restricted gatherings, while regional tensions grew as CENTCOM reported strikes on IRGC targets and Saudi officials said drones hit the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh causing minor damage.