‘Not technically a war’: Pentagon denies benefits to widow of man who died fighting Iran; fixes ‘error’ later

Libby Klinner, the widow of Air Force Major Alex Klinner, is set to receive some of the benefits she is entitled to following initial denial due to Iran conflict not being deemed a formal "war." Maj. Klinner was among 18 US service members who lost their lives since the February military operation against Iran, when the KC-135 refueling aircraft he was on crashed in Iraq.

A distraught Libby Klinner expressed her frustration on Instagram, revealing that her husband's final paycheck would include hazard pay and combat-related tax breaks, despite initial claims that they were ineligible for certain benefits. Vice President JD Vance promised to investigate the matter and assured Libby that her claims would be resolved, emphasizing the Air Force's commitment to providing the necessary support to her and her family.

The incident, sparked by the tragic loss of Maj. Klinner, a father of two, garnered significant attention, prompting Vice President Vance to reject using the term "war" to describe the ongoing conflict with Iran, stating that there were "no active shootings" in the ongoing strikes. The US Air Force acknowledged the error in Libby Klinner's case, clarifying that her husband's paycheck had already included combat-related hazard pay and tax breaks.