Khamenei news highlights: Protests erupt in India, Pak, Iraq after Khamenei's death; 9 killed in Karachi

Khamenei succession news highlights: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Saturday, said Iran, during the joint strikes by the US and Israel.

Khamenei news highlights: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint strike by the United States and Israel on Saturday. However, following his death, Iran vowed to take revenge and carried out retaliatory strikes across the Middle East. Blasts and sirens were heard in Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE as Iran launched fresh strikes targeting US military bases.

Khamenei's death was first announced by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social. Hours after Trump's “evil Khamenei is dead” message, Iran confirmed the death of the Ayatollah, and his daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Along with Khamenei, the commander of the IRGC, Iran's defence minister and other officials were also killed in the US-Israel strikes.

IRGC vows ‘severe punishment’

Iran’s IRGC has warned of a 'a severe, decisive and regret-inducing punishment' over Khamenei's killing, reports AP.

Citing state-run Fars agency, the IRNA has said it is launching what it called “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic”.

The offensive will begin “in just moments” and target the “occupied territories and American terrorist bases” across the region, the statement said.

Protests erupt in Pakistan, Iraq and parts of India

Amid the outrage over the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hundreds of protestors in Pakistan stormed at US Consulate in Karachi on Sunday. Nine persons were killed as protestors clashed with police and paramilitary forces. As per a report by AP, the protest came hours after Iran confirmed the death of Ayatollah Khamenei in the joint strikes conducted by the US and Israel.

In Iraq, security forces stood guard as protesters supporting the Iraqi Shi'ite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy in Baghdad.

In India, protests were seen in Jammu and Kashmir and Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. In J&K, the city of Srinagar came to a standstill with shops closed and public transport suspended due to the mass movement, and in Lucknow, large numbers of people across the old city took to the streets to protest against the killing of Khamenei.

US and Israel attack Iran

US forces striking Iran focused on locations “that posed an imminent threat” including “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields,” US Central Command said in a statement Saturday.

Israel’s military say that that “dozens” of missiles have been fired by Iran at Israel. While many have been intercepted and no serious injuries have been reported, the missile barrages were continuing after sundown Saturday.

Across the Middle East, governments moved quickly to condemn Iran’s strikes on Arab neighbors, while staying silent on earlier Israeli and US attacks.

Countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Israel, including Morocco, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, denounced Iranian strikes targeting US military bases including in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the Emirates.