As the Middle East is on the verge of a disastrous situation in the wake of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel earlier this month, a shocking new development that has the world on edge occurred this week. 

According to the Associated Press, on Thursday, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted at least three land attack cruise missiles fired from Yemen. The missiles were reportedly thought to be targeting Israel.

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, shot down the barrage of missiles over the Red Sea on Thursday.

Several drones were reportedly also downed by the destroyer. Yemen-based Houthi forces reportedly launched the drones and missiles.

JUST IN: U.S. 5th fleet released photos of the destroyer USS Carney in the Red Sea on Thursday shooting down Houthi missiles and drones pic.twitter.com/t604819W6U

— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) October 21, 2023

The AP noted:

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the missiles were “potentially” headed toward Israel but said the U.S. hasn’t finished its assessment of what they were targeting.

Another top-ranking official said they didn't believe the missiles and drones were targeting the U.S. Navy destroyer.

The situation came as several drone attacks were launched on U.S. forces in both Syria and Iraq.

The AP noted:

In recent days, however, a number of militant groups across the region — from Hezbollah to the Houthis — have expressed support for the Palestinians and threatened Israel. Since Tuesday, militants have launched at least four drone attacks on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria where U.S. troops train local defense forces and support the mission to counter the Islamic State group.

Later reports indicated that the shoot-downs by the U.S. Navy destroyer were more significant than previously reported.

"Multiple U.S. Defense Officials are now reporting that the Interceptions over the Red Sea almost 2 Nights Ago by the USS Carney (DDG-64) were much more Significant than had previously been stated, with the Destroyer said to have Intercepted at least 4 Land-Attack Cruise Missiles and 15 Drones launched by the Houthis in Yemen all within a 9-Hour Period, in which the “Targets” were Detected following the Coast with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and were clearly Aimed at Israel," OSINTDefender wrote in an X post.

Multiple U.S. Defense Officials are now reporting that the Interceptions over the Red Sea almost 2 Nights Ago by the USS Carney (DDG-64) were much more Significant than had previously been stated, with the Destroyer said to have Intercepted at least 4 Land-Attack Cruise Missiles… pic.twitter.com/DsPiXRjwh1

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 20, 2023

If the missiles and drones were meant to target Israel, which seems most likely, it would mark the United States' first military involvement in the unfolding Hamas/Israel war.

Only time will tell how much more involved U.S. military forces will be as Israel prepares to launch a massive ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.