The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli strikes has triggered violent protests across Pakistan, with at least nine people dead and nearly two dozen wounded after hundreds of demonstrators stormed the United States Consulate in Karachi on Sunday. Shia youth breached the consulate's outer perimeter, torched a nearby police post and smashed windows before security forces moved in and regained control. The area surrounding the consulate resembled a conflict zone for hours, according to senior police officials. Protests also erupted in Lahore near the US Consulate, and in Multan and Islamabad, with authorities stepping up security around diplomatic missions nationwide. The US Embassy advised American citizens to avoid large crowds and stay alert. Shia Muslims make up roughly 15 percent of Pakistan's 250 million population, and while anti-US and anti-Israel protests are common, clashes of this scale are rare.