Leading Lebanese conservationist dies after Israeli airstrike on her home

Key Points:

• Mona Khalil, a 76-year-old Lebanese conservationist known for her decades-long efforts to protect endangered green sea turtles and southern Lebanon's Mediterranean coast, died after an Israeli airstrike hit her beachside home near Tyre.
• Khalil founded a conservation movement focused on safeguarding sea turtle nesting grounds, training volunteers, and promoting ecological awareness, turning her home, the "Orange House," into a hub for ecotourism and environmental education.
• The Israeli military has not confirmed targeting Khalil's home and is reviewing records, while the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in over 4,000 deaths in Lebanon since March 2.
• Khalil's work included combating threats to turtles such as human encroachment, ocean pollution, and predators, and she successfully helped establish a community-based conservation area and campaigned against harmful fishing practices like dynamite use.
• Colleagues and environmental groups have praised Khalil as a leading voice in marine conservation in Lebanon and called for accountability for her death and the deaths of other civilians in the conflict.