Mona Khalil, a beloved Lebanese marine activist and conservationist, has died from injuries sustained after an Israeli airstrike hit her beachside home two weeks ago. The 76-year-old passed away on Friday.
For more than two decades, Khalil led an effort to protect nesting sites for endangered sea turtles in southern Lebanon. She ran a sanctuary and guesthouse called the Orange House Project near the Mediterranean city of Tyre, where endangered turtles lay their eggs every summer.
Through her project, Khalil created a conservation movement, hosting volunteers to clean and monitor a mile-long stretch of beach while welcoming tourists to learn about conservation. People gathered in Beirut to remember the dedicated protector of sea turtles.