Mona Khalil

Mona Khalil, a 76 or 77-year-old Lebanese environmental activist and marine ecologist, has died from injuries sustained in an Israeli strike. Khalil was renowned for her decades-long dedication to protecting endangered sea turtles, transforming a stretch of coastline near Mansouri beach, south of Tyre, into a vital nesting site in the eastern Mediterranean. She ran the Orange House Project, a sanctuary where she hosted volunteers to help monitor and clean the beach. Her home was reportedly hit during recent Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, leading to her severe wounding and subsequent death. Khalil's work significantly contributed to turtle conservation efforts in the region, making her a beloved figure in Lebanon and highlighting the impact of the conflict on environmental activism and civilian lives.