The UK Foreign Office has condemned an Israeli airstrike that killed Mona Khalil, a Lebanese conservationist whose work was supported by British funding. Khalil, 47, was killed on Tuesday when a missile struck her home in the southern village of Qana. She had been working with the UK-backed charity ‘Green Lebanon’ to protect the region’s endangered cedar forests.
Khalil’s death has sparked outrage among environmentalists and human rights groups, who say the strike underscores the devastating toll of the conflict on civilians and those working to preserve Lebanon’s natural heritage. The Foreign Office called for an immediate investigation, stressing that aid workers and conservationists must be protected under international law.
Mona Khalil was a respected figure in conservation circles. She had spent over a decade mapping cedar forests and training local communities in sustainable farming. Her work was partly funded by the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, which supports projects that reduce environmental degradation and promote stability in fragile regions.
‘She was a force of nature,’ said Dr. Samira Haddad, a colleague at Green Lebanon. ‘She believed that protecting the environment was a way to build peace. And now she is gone because of a war she had no part in.’
The Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah positions in the area but did not comment on the civilian death. The UK Foreign Office called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are not targeted.
Labour MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell, who had met Khalil during a parliamentary visit to Lebanon in 2019, said the killing was ‘a tragic reminder of the human cost of this conflict.’ She urged the government to press for a ceasefire and to ensure that UK-funded aid workers are given safe passage.
The incident comes as the Foreign Office faces criticism over its handling of the conflict. Critics say the UK has been too slow to condemn civilian deaths and too quick to back Israel’s right to self-defence. ‘This is a test of our values,’ said a Foreign Office source. ‘We cannot claim to support conservation and peace while our partners are being killed.’
For the people of Qana, Khalil’s death is a devastating blow. She had helped plant over 10,000 trees in the area and had trained dozens of young people in eco-tourism. ‘She was like a mother to the forest,’ said Ali, a local farmer. ‘Who will protect the trees now?’
The Foreign Office has offered support to Khalil’s family and has said it will review funding for conservation projects in conflict zones. But for many, the damage is done. The killing of Mona Khalil is a stark reminder that in war, even the protectors of nature are not safe.
