Mona Khalil, a renowned environmental activist and sea turtle conservationist in Lebanon, has died from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack on her home in southern Lebanon.
Khalil spent more than 25 years protecting endangered sea turtles along the Mansouri coast. Her work helped transform the area into one of the most important sea turtle conservation sites in the eastern Mediterranean.
She was injured when an Israeli airstrike struck her residence, known as the "Orange House," earlier in June. After receiving medical treatment for several days, she succumbed to her injuries.
Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from environmentalists, journalists, activists, and members of the public, many of whom described her as one of Lebanon’s most dedicated conservation advocates.
Born in Lagos in 1949 to a Lebanese family, Khalil later returned to Lebanon, where she devoted her life to protecting wildlife, marine ecosystems, and the environment.
Conservation groups and environmental experts say her passing is a major loss for environmental protection efforts in Lebanon and the wider region, particularly for the conservation of endangered sea turtles and coastal habitats.
Her legacy is expected to continue through the conservation programs and environmental awareness initiatives she helped establish over the course of her career.