Iran's Navy conducted more than 20 operations against U.S. warships within the first 40 days of the war, which began on February 28, according to Rear Admiral Jalil Moghaddam, Deputy Coordinator of the Iranian Army's Navy, as reported by Iranian state media IRNA. He refuted U.S. claims that the Iranian Navy had been destroyed, noting that U.S. and Israeli forces avoided approaching Iran's coastline. Moghaddam detailed operations against the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, stating that Iranian forces identified and targeted the carrier with strategic cruise missiles early in the war. In another operation, Iranian forces used drones, cruise missiles, and electronic warfare systems against the U.S. destroyer DDG 103, which was harassing Iranian merchant vessels and oil tankers. Moghaddam warned that the Iranian Navy's capabilities have improved since the 40-day war, and future conflicts would involve a broader range of operations.