Following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by joint U.S. forces, widespread protests have erupted globally, with particularly severe unrest in Pakistan. Attacks were reported on U.S. embassies in Karachi and Lahore, prompting Washington to order all non-essential personnel to return home immediately with their families, leaving only emergency staff at the missions.
Interestingly, no evacuation order was issued for the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. Meanwhile, personnel at U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Oman were permitted to return home voluntarily, highlighting heightened American precautionary measures across the Gulf and South Asia.
In a separate development, Iran launched missiles targeting an American surveillance asset at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack destroyed a critical AN/FPS-132 Phased Array Radar system, designed to monitor potential threats in the region. While one of the missiles was intercepted, the second struck the radar system, causing significant explosions and rendering the system inoperative.
The U.S. had invested heavily in advanced radar and intelligence systems in the Gulf, with the Al Udeid radar alone costing around $1.1 billion (₹10,130 crore). With the radar damaged, U.S. personnel reported that missile defense networks, including Patriot and THAAD systems, are now partially impaired, raising concerns over regional security amid escalating tensions with Iran.