The families of American soldiers killed during the US-Israeli conflict against Iran are facing a second battle: that of the Pentagon bureaucracy to receive the payments and benefits they are entitled to after the loss of their relatives.
The case that has caused reactions in the US is that of Libby Klinner, the wife of Major Alex Klinner, 33, who lost his life in March when a KC-135 supply plane crashed in western Iraq. The plane was supporting US operations against Iran.
According to reports from The Telegraph and the Associated Press, Klinner was one of six crew members who died on that mission. Since the start of the conflict with Iran, 18 American service members have been killed and hundreds more injured.
But what turned the case into a public scandal was the widow's claim that the US Air Force had deemed her ineligible for certain additional benefits, arguing that Congress had not officially declared war.
"My husband lost his life because we're at war, and then they told me that technically it's not a war, so we lose some benefits," Libby Klinner told the AP.
After her social media reaction, the case gained national attention. The Air Force later said it had contacted the family to clarify pay and benefits, saying Klinner would receive all benefits to which she was entitled.
However, the issue has opened a broader debate in the US: how can soldiers be sent on combat missions, killed in operations against another country, but the administration avoids the term "war" when it comes to legal and financial responsibility towards their families.
Essentially, the families of killed soldiers are facing a cynical paradox: the state calls them heroes when they fall in the line of duty, but when it comes time for payments, they are reminded that the "war" does not officially exist.
