It's excactly how it works. USA has not been, from their legal point of view, in war since second world war. Their 'special operation' equivalent is (based on a very quick search) 'armed conflict' or 'prolonged period of sustained combat involving U.S. Armed Forces'.

If you insist on the term 'illegal war' the proper legal equivalent would be 'act of war'. In politics correct use of terms at least used to be pretty important, but obviously today, and specially in the USA, that goal has been flushed down the golden toilet multiple times. But that doesn't change the fact that she condemned the attacks while defending their constitution and that fact doesn't change even if you try to twist that to something else.