The student protests were organised by pro-Iranian Shia groups. Shia Muslims make up about 20 per cent of Pakistan’s population. ISO is the student wing of Shia political parties in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, ISO students also gather in the northwestern city of Peshawar. A security alert has been declared around the US Consulate in Peshawar and the US Embassy in Islamabad.
On the morning of 28 February, the Israeli military launched a strike on Iranian territory. Hours after Israel announced what it called a “pre-emptive strike”, US President Donald Trump said Washington had launched “major combat operations” against Iran.
In a video message posted on social media, Donald Trump said his goal was to “protect the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Iranian media reported explosions in several cities, notably Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Qumi, Lorestan and Chabahar. In Tehran, the strikes targeted Iran’s top leadership.
Israel and the US have claimed the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran confirmed this today, saying that an Interim Leadership Council will be formed today and will include Iran’s president, the chairman of the judiciary and a lawyer from the Guardian Council.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded to the US and Israeli strikes by launching several waves of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel. Iran has also launched missiles at several Middle Eastern countries where US Armed Forces bases are located. Explosions were reported in Bahrain, UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The strikes came just days after nuclear talks between the US and Iran, casting doubt on the planned continuation of talks next week in Vienna as Washington steps up its military presence in the region.
At least nine people killed in attack on US consulate in Pakistan