The United States on Wednesday ordered the departure of non-emergency staff and family members from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi, citing “safety risks” amid escalating tensions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation.In a statement, the US Embassy in Pakistan said the State Department had directed non-essential government personnel to leave the two missions. It added that there has been no change in the status of the US Embassy in Islamabad.Separately, Washington also authorised the voluntary departure of staff from its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman as a precautionary measure.On Tuesday, the department said it was taking “historic action” to assist citizens who wish to leave the Middle East and return to the United States.It added that in the past several days, more than “9,000 American citizens have safely returned from the Middle East, including over 300 from Israel.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, triggering the current conflict.In the aftermath, protesters attempted to storm the US Consulate in the southern city of Karachi and clashed with police outside the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad, where the US Embassy is located. United Nations offices in northern cities were also attacked.At least 34 people were killed in clashes with security forces, and more than 120 others were injured, according to officials.
