Washington, D.C. – Federal authorities arrested a 51‑year‑old electrical engineer from Richland, Washington, alleging that he secretly aided the Iran‑aligned Houthi faction operating in Yemen.
Undisclosed trip to Yemen
According to the Department of Justice, the suspect, identified as Ashton Hameed Elaboudi, flew to Yemen in September of last year. An FBI affidavit states his mission was to establish contacts with Houthi operatives and help upgrade the rebels’ communications network.
Official story unraveled
Upon returning to the United States, Elaboudi told Customs and Border Protection that he had come back from Oman on a work assignment, claiming participation in a U.S.‑government review of missile‑defense systems. Investigators later discovered that his supervisor had no record of such a deployment and that no Department of Energy program called for travel to Yemen or Oman.
Links to Houthi‑linked contacts
FBI documents reveal that Elaboudi discussed covert ingress and egress routes into Yemen and expressed a desire to reach the capital, Sana’a, to meet senior Houthi figures. While he never arrived in the city, the affidavit notes that he exchanged messages with several informants, one of whom pretended to be a Houthi colonel. In those conversations, Elaboudi offered technical advice on communications equipment, ostensibly to strengthen the rebel group’s capabilities.
Questionable equipment purchases
The probe also uncovered acquisitions that could be repurposed for improvised explosives and drone components. Prosecutors say these purchases constitute key evidence supporting the indictment.
Federal terrorism indictment
Elaboudi now faces a federal charge of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, a violation punishable under U.S. law. He is scheduled to appear before a court, though a defense attorney had not been listed at the time of reporting. The case is in its early stages, and both sides are expected to contest the affidavit’s evidence.
