OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
3:50 PM – Friday, October 2, 2026
Federal law enforcement authorities have arrested Ashton Ellaboudy, an electrical engineer employed by the U.S. Department of Energy, charging him with attempting to provide material support to the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.
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Who are the Houthis?
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are an armed Zaydi Shia Islamist political and military group that emerged in northwestern Yemen during the 1990s under the leadership of Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi to counter Saudi-backed Sunni influences.
Capitalizing on political unrest, the group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in late 2014, ousting the internationally recognized government and taking control of northern Yemen along with the Red Sea coastline.
As a core member of Iran’s regional “Axis of Resistance” receiving military hardware, drone technology and financial backing from Tehran, the Houthis operate under a strongly anti-Western ideology encapsulated by their terrorist slogan, “Death to America, Death to Israel.”
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According to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, the FBI arrested Ellaboudy, 51, in Washington State following a joint counterterrorism investigation that uncovered plans to supply technical advice, solar power schematics and raw materials for explosive devices and unmanned aerial vehicles to the designated foreign terrorist organization.
Court filings reveal that federal agents launched their investigation after discovering that Ellaboudy had purchased precursor chemicals commonly utilized in constructing improvised explosive devices, such as acetone and sodium bisulfate, along with specific components used to build custom military drones.
During the undercover operation conducted by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force, Ellaboudy communicated with confidential sources, including an individual he believed to be a high-ranking Houthi colonel.
Levering his technical expertise, he provided detailed diagrams, electrical schematics and guidance on modifying solar power generators and communication systems to improve the operational capability of the Islamist group.
Officials noted that Ellaboudy had also attempted to travel directly to Sanaa, Yemen, to assist the group on the ground, though he was ultimately unable to complete the journey.
DOE officials clarified that Ellaboudy was based out of the Hanford Site in Washington State, but emphasized that there was no attempt to compromise or harm the nuclear cleanup facility, its workforce or its surrounding infrastructure. Energy Department leadership confirmed that site safety and national security protocols remained intact throughout the whole probe.
The prosecution is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington alongside the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section.
Highlighting the severity of the case, Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg described the allegations as deeply disturbing. If convicted of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, Ellaboudy faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison.
“As alleged, a U.S. government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination.”
“This individual allegedly betrayed the U.S. and attempted to aid the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization, but thanks to the work of the men and women of the FBI, his actions were detected and he is now in custody,” said Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “According to the criminal complaint, Ellaboudy tried to assist the terrorist group improve its communications capabilities, he purchased materials for homemade explosives and drones, and he traveled to Yemen where the Houthis control the capital city. Preventing terrorism and protecting the U.S. homeland is a vital part of the FBI’s mission. We will use all our resources and work closely with our partners to identify and stop anyone planning to commit acts of terrorism or to help terrorist organizations.”
“The Hanford Field Office appreciates the leadership and diligence of the investigation conducted by the FBI. This matter did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce, and at no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site,” said Office Manager Ray Geimer of the Department of Energy Hanford Field Office. “We remain committed to providing a safe and secure workplace as we move the Hanford mission forward.”
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