The US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed on Monday that a drone launched by the Yemeni Armed Forces was shot down over the Red Sea.

In a statement, CENTCOM revealed that the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) "presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region."

The incident came less than one day after the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to the Red Sea, as reported by the US Naval Institute. It had earlier left the region, heading back to the United States following over 200 days of deployment.

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The warship-led strike group returned in anticipation of the Israeli occupation's invasion of Rafah, which was launched later that day.

Earlier, Sanaa announced initiating stage four of its operations in support of Palestine in Gaza, which included two parts. The first part directly went into effect and expanded the scope of attacks to include the Mediterranean Sea, while Yemenis said the second part would be triggered in case of an Israeli attack on Rafah.

The second part enforces a new equation that would hold the operator of any ship that docks in occupied Palestinian ports liable, and would make all its ships within the reach of the Yemeni Armed Forces a legitimate target.

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Last Wednesday, Ansar Allah Political Bureau member Ali Al-Qahoum warned that any military base or territory used as a launching point for US, UK, and Israeli aggression against Yemen be deemed a "primary" target for Yemen, and will thus expand "theater of operations and the target bank to include strategic and vital targets in depth and in economically significant areas."

On the same day, the Supreme Council said that the consequences of Western and Israeli aggressions would extend beyond Yemen's borders.