At least 15 people, including 11 civilians and four security personnel, have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to local authorities.

The unrest was triggered by opposition to the reservation of 12 seats in the regional legislative assembly for Kashmiri refugees. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for a march to Muzaffarabad, but authorities banned the group, accused it of sedition, and ordered action against its leaders.

Despite the restrictions, thousands of protesters joined the march, leading to violent confrontations in several areas.

Dozens of people have also been injured, and concerns remain over further violence. Amnesty International has criticized the authorities’ response, citing mass arrests, internet shutdowns, and the use of excessive force against protesters.

The demonstrators are demanding the abolition of the reserved seats, arguing that all legislative seats should be contested by residents of the region. However, the region’s Supreme Court has ruled that the seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be removed through political or administrative measures.

The ‌U.S. government on Wednesday said it was imposing sanctions against 11 people ​and entities, including several based ​in China and Hong Kong, ⁠for supporting weapons procurement by ​Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and ​the Iranian military, Reuters reported.

Nine of those designated were China- and Hong Kong-based individuals ​and companies that facilitated the ​procurement of weapons for Iran’s military, and ‌a ⁠Hong Kong-based company operating within Iran’s clandestine banking network, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets ​Control said ​in ⁠a statement.

The U.S. State Department also designated two ​companies and individuals based in ​Iran ⁠and Belarus in connection with Iran’s conventional arms-related activities, Treasury ⁠said.

All personnel on board ​a military helicopter have been ‌killed in a crash near Muzaffarabad in Pakistani Kashmir, Pakistan’s ​military said in a ​statement on Wednesday, without specifying ⁠the number of deaths.

“An ​Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army ​Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad today during take-off due to technical fault,” ​the military said in ​a statement, Reuters reported. “There were no survivors.”

Rescue teams have ‌reached ⁠the site and a board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the ​exact technical ​cause ⁠of the accident, it said.

The helicopter crashed ​while taking off and ​caught ⁠fire, a Reuters witness said, adding that firefighters were ⁠trying ​to control the ​flames.