Lebanese marine ecologist Mona Khalil, a prominent advocate for endangered sea turtles, has died from injuries sustained when an Israeli strike hit her home near the southern city of Tyre last week. Khalil, 77, succumbed to her wounds on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Khalil dedicated more than two decades to protecting the nesting sites of loggerhead and green sea turtles along Lebanon's southern coast. These species are highly threatened by various environmental factors, including coastal development, plastic pollution, fishing nets, and light pollution, placing them at risk of extinction in the eastern Mediterranean.

Environmental group Live Love Tyre announced Khalil’s passing on Friday, stating, “It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Mona Khalil today.” The group remembered her for an “incredible legacy” and noted that she “chose to stay and care for the turtles.” Her life was described as “selfless and impactful.”

Khalil’s death occurred on a day when Israel escalated air attacks on southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 50 fatalities and numerous injuries. This escalation took place despite the ongoing fragile peace negotiations between Iran and the United States.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1949, Khalil spent years abroad before settling in southern Lebanon. Her commitment to turtle conservation began in 1999 after a chance encounter with a nesting turtle on al-Mansouri beach. This experience inspired her lifelong mission to safeguard these vulnerable creatures and their habitats.

In 2000, Khalil co-founded the Orange House, an eco-tourism project located at al-Mansouri beach, which aimed to raise awareness and support for marine conservation. She also contributed to documenting marine life in the region and actively campaigned against pollution along Lebanon’s coastline.

Journalist and fellow volunteer Fadia Joumaa, who worked closely with Khalil, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, stating, “You have left us yet you remain within us – we, your children.” Joumaa emphasized that Khalil’s death is “a loss for all of Lebanon… not just for us. A loss for the life you guarded so faithfully.”

Mona Khalil's passing represents a significant loss for Lebanon's environmental conservation efforts. Her unwavering dedication to protecting endangered sea turtles and her home's destruction underscore the broader environmental and human costs of the ongoing conflict in the region.