POLICE in Pakistan fired tear gas on Sunday to disperse protesters who breached the outer wall of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, as unrest spread across the country amid widespread anger at reports of strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Reuters reported that demonstrators also gathered outside the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy is situated.
Local authorities said that in Karachi, security forces eventually pushed demonstrators back from the consulate after they breached the perimeter.
A Reuters reporter on the scene heard gunfire and saw video footage showing burning vehicles outside the consulate’s main gate.
No casualties had been reported in the clashes, and U.S. diplomats at the consulate were not immediately available for comment.
Large protests also broke out elsewhere in Pakistan.
In the northern city of Skardu in the Gilgit‑Baltistan region, known for its Himalayan peaks, a United Nations office building was set alight.
“A large number of protesters have gathered outside the UN office in GB and burned down the building,” said local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir, adding that no casualties had been reported.
Crowds had earlier gathered in the city to protest after social media claims circulated regarding the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces. These allegations remain unverified by independent sources.
In the central city of Lahore, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. consulate.
“Some of the protestors tried to damage the security gate, hundreds of yards away from the Consulate, however, police stopped them without use of force,” eyewitness Aqeel Raza told Reuters.
Meanwhile, global air travel continued to suffer severe disruption on Sunday as continued strikes and regional uncertainty led to the closure or severe restriction of major Middle Eastern airspace.
Key transit hubs including Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international airports, and major airports in Abu Dhabi and Doha were shut or operating with significant limitations, leaving thousands of flights cancelled or rerouted and aircraft and crews stranded out of position.
The clashes and airspace closures have had ripple effects around the world. Dubai and Doha serve as critical east‑west transit points for long‑haul flights between Europe and Asia, and their closure has squeezed airlines into narrower corridors, driving up fuel costs and lengthening journey times.
“It’s the sheer volume of people and the complexity,” said UK‑based aviation analyst John Strickland, describing the unprecedented challenge of repositioning aircraft and crews disrupted by the closures.
Ian Petchenik, communications director at Flightradar24, warned that commercial carriers face the risk of protracted disruption.
“Any escalation in the conflict that results in the closure of airspace would have drastic consequences for travel between Europe and Asia,” he said, highlighting additional tension along routes near Pakistan and Afghanistan. - March 1, 2026
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