Skardu Protests Erupt After Assassination Of Ayatollah Khamenei

On March 1, 2026, violent protests erupted in Skardu, Pakistan, following reports of the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, allegedly in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, resulting in significant unrest as protesters set fire to multiple public and private buildings, including the United Nations sub-office, the Army Public School, and the office of the Superintendent of Police. The Gilgit-Baltistan Police reported that the protests escalated from a peaceful demonstration to violent mob actions, with thick plumes of smoke visible across the city. In response to the deteriorating law and order situation, the Pakistan Army was deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution to assist civil authorities in restoring order. "The extent of damage is still being assessed," reported The Frontier Post, highlighting the ongoing tension in the region.