Lebanese Turtle Hero Mona Khalil Killed in Israeli Strike

Sat Jun 20 2026 20:35:12 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Lebanese environmental champion Mona Khalil dies after her home is struck by an Israeli air raid, underscoring the peril facing conservationists in conflict zones.

Mona Khalil, 76, a lifelong advocate for endangered sea turtles along Lebanon’s southern coast, died from injuries sustained when her house on Mansouri Beach was hit during recent Israeli air strikes. Her work, starting after seeing a turtle lay eggs in 1999, helped protect crucial nesting sites and raised awareness of marine threats. Khalil’s death comes amid intensified bombardments in southern Lebanon, raising concerns over the safety of civilians and environmental defenders.

Lebanese Turtle Hero Mona Khalil Killed in Israeli Strike

Mona Khalil, 76, a lifelong champion for endangered turtles in southern Lebanon, died after her house on Mansouri Beach was struck by an Israeli air raid two weeks ago. She was wounded in the attack and later succumbed to her injuries in hospital.

A former civil‑war refugee living in the Netherlands, Khalil returned to Lebanon to protect the coastline where she first encountered a sea turtle laying eggs in 1999. She established the Orange House Project in 2000, turning a small guesthouse into an eco‑tourism hub that promotes marine research and conservation.

Over 25 years she monitored nesting sites, documented marine life and campaigned against coastal development, pollution and destructive fishing. Her activism helped secure protected status for parts of the coast, raising global awareness of Lebanese marine threats.

Friends say her dedication never wavered even during multiple conflicts. “She barricaded herself inside her house and believed she was safe as a civilian,” recalled activist Maha Joumaa.

Khalil’s legacy, preserved through the movement she built, will continue via the generations of turtles she helped protect. “Her greatest legacy isn’t just turtles, it’s people learning to care for them,” said Paul Abi Rached.