US Air Force admits error over payments to widow of fallen major
In the United States, Libby Klinner, the widow of Air Force Major Alex Klinner, will receive at least part of the payments due to her after she was initially told she was not entitled to combat-related benefits. As The Jerusalem Post reports, she was told the denial was because the conflict with Iran is technically not considered a war.
Major Klinner, 33, was killed in March in Iraq when a KC-135 tanker aircraft crashed. He was one of 18 US service members who have died since the start of the war against Iran in February. Ariana Savino, Ashley Pruitt, Seth Koval, Curtis Angst and Tyler Simmons were also killed in the crash.
Clarification regarding payments
After Klinner spoke out about being denied some of the benefits, the US Air Force told her that her husband's final payment includes hazardous duty pay and combat-related tax benefits. According to the widow, Air Force representatives also acknowledged that they had provided her with inaccurate information: these amounts had already been included in the final calculation but were incorrectly classified in the documents.
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Combat pay for US military personnel amounts to an additional $225 per month. According to private financial company First Command Financial Services, a formal declaration of war is not required for it to be granted. A service member must be in an area of serious danger of physical injury or be killed or wounded as a result of hostile fire.
White House reaction
The situation drew the attention of US Vice President J.D. Vance, who promised during a White House briefing to review the case and ensure the family receives all payments due. At the same time, he did not agree to call the current conflict a war, citing the absence of active shooting.
The publication notes that the United States carried out several waves of strikes against Iran over the past week, while Iranian authorities continued shelling Persian Gulf states. Alex Klinner is survived by his wife and three children. A GoFundMe campaign created after his death raised more than $1.5 million for the family.
