Lebanese environmental activist Mona Khalil, 76, has died after injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike that hit her house on Mansouri Beach near Tyre, according to local environmental groups.
Khalil’s work turned a stretch of southern Lebanese coast into one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s most important nesting sites for endangered loggerhead and green sea turtles. She founded the Orange House Project in 2000, an eco‑tourism and wildlife centre that grew into a hub for conservation education and marine research.
Her activism began after seeing a green turtle lay eggs on the beach in 1999, sparking a lifelong commitment to protect the region’s marine life. Over more than 25 years, she monitored nesting sites, documented marine populations, and campaigned against coastal development, pollution and destructive fishing practices.
Khalil’s house suffered damage during the 2006 Israel‑Hezbollah war, yet she stayed, refusing to be displaced. She barricaded herself inside her home during recent strikes, believing she was a civilian safe from harm. Her decision reflects her steadfast character, some say.
Environmental groups say her legacy will endure through the conservation movement she helped build and the generations of turtles that continue to return to Lebanon’s shores. Friends noted she inspired people to care about marine ecosystems, often blending her love for turtles with her love for community. Even as hostilities continue amid ceasefire agreements, her contributions to environmental stewardship and peace remain a guiding light.
