It wasn't all that long ago that a US Navy warship shot down an Iraqi civilian Airbus killing all 290 aboard, including 66 children.
The USS Vincennes, an AEGIS missle cruiser mistook a climbing commercial jet liner for a diving MIG. Then Vice-President George H.W. Bush went to the UN and made a statement that was lies from beginning to end to justify the attack. All personnel aboard the USS Vincennes were awarded medals for their heroic action.
All of which is to say that the Navy is capable of can starting wars whether it intends to or not. Sending warships is itself a provocation.
Navy Missile Downs Iranian Jetliner Iran Air Flight 655