Most Families of US Troops Killed in Iran War's Deadliest Attack Will Not Attend White House Event

Most of the families of six US service members killed in the deadliest attack of the Iran war are not expected to attend a White House event honouring Gold Star families.

The six soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait on 1 March, according to the Associated Press.

Only one family member of those six service members confirmed to the AP that they planned to attend Tuesday's reception hosted by President Donald Trump and the first lady.

The event is being held to honour Gold Star families — relatives of US military personnel who died while serving on active duty.

But for some families connected to the March attack, the event comes as questions remain about what happened before the strike and whether the risks faced by the soldiers were properly addressed.

Families Still Waiting for Answers

The families have expressed frustration over the lack of information surrounding the attack.

Joey Amor, whose wife, Master Sgt Nicole Amor, was among the six soldiers killed, said there were still questions about what information was available to military leaders, what decisions were made and what happened in the moments before the strike.

In a public statement, he called for greater transparency and said the families deserved answers.

The AP reported that soldiers who survived the attack also raised concerns about the level of protection at the site and whether warnings about the potential threat were adequately addressed.

The news agency said its reporting was based on interviews with 13 soldiers.

The US Army has completed an investigation into the strike, but has said it has not yet briefed the families because sensitive information is still being redacted before the findings can be released.

The Pentagon declined to comment to the AP.

Six Soldiers Were Killed

The six service members killed in the March attack were:

• Sgt Declan Coady

• Master Sgt Nicole Amor

• Maj Cody Khork

• Master Sgt Noah Tietjens

• Maj Jeffrey O'Brien

• Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan

Their deaths came during a conflict that, according to the AP's latest figures, has claimed the lives of 19 US service members and wounded more than 800 others.

The March 1 strike was the deadliest single attack on US troops during the war.

Why Some Families Will Not Attend

The reasons families are not attending the White House event vary.

Some say they did not receive invitations or enough notice.

Others say the emotional impact of attending would be too difficult.

The widow of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Tina Marzan, said she and her two children were not invited.

She told the AP that she believed her family should have been included.

The White House said it does not contact people who have specifically requested not to be contacted.

The mother of Maj Cody Khork also said she did not receive an invitation, although she said she would not have attended because remembering her son's death remains too painful.

She has previously spoken positively about President Trump following a meeting during the dignified transfer of her son's remains.

Questions Over Invitations

The AP reported that the White House began sending invitations to Gold Star families around two weeks before the event.

Several families said they received phone calls or emails, while at least two said they had not received invitations.

John Thompson, a former US Army sergeant who runs an organisation supporting veterans and Gold Star families, told the AP that some families had also struggled with the short notice and the cost of travelling to Washington.

The White House said it attempted to send an invitation to members of Khork's family.

For families grieving the loss of a service member, however, the practical difficulties of travelling and the emotional circumstances surrounding the event can be significant.

A Divided Response

Gold Star families have responded differently to the administration's handling of the event.

Some have expressed appreciation for the way their relatives' service has been recognised.

Others have criticised the administration and questioned how the families have been treated.

The issue has also become politically sensitive because of comments President Trump has previously made about the conflict.

The AP reported that Trump described the war in dismissive terms on two occasions, referring to it as a "little excursion" early in the conflict and later as "small potatoes".

Those comments have been viewed differently by families of service members killed during the war.

The Human Cost of the Conflict

Behind the political arguments surrounding the White House reception are families still dealing with the loss of husbands, wives, sons and daughters.

For some, attending a formal ceremony can provide an opportunity to remember a loved one and recognise their service.

For others, the same event can reopen painful memories.

The disagreement over Tuesday's reception therefore reflects a much wider issue: how governments communicate with military families after service members are killed, particularly when questions remain about the circumstances of their deaths.

For the families of those killed at Port Shuaiba, the central issue appears to extend beyond an invitation to the White House.

They are also waiting for answers about the attack that took their loved ones.

Investigation Findings Yet to Be Released

The US Army's investigation into the March 1 strike was completed in June.

However, the Army has said the findings are still being reviewed and redacted before they can be released.

Until the families receive that information, questions about the decisions made before the attack and the level of protection provided to the soldiers remain unresolved publicly.

For the relatives of the six service members killed at Port Shuaiba, Tuesday's ceremony is therefore taking place against a backdrop of grief, unanswered questions and differing views over how their loved ones' sacrifice should be remembered.

The families continue to wait for the full findings of the military investigation.