Washington, D.C. – Federal authorities arrested a 51‑year‑old electrical engineer from Richland, Washington, charging him with clandestine assistance to 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 the previous year. An FBI affidavit states his mission was to establish contacts with Houthi operatives and enhance the group’s communications network.
Official story unravels
Upon re‑entering the United States, Elaboudi informed Customs and Border Protection that he had returned from Oman on a work assignment, claiming participation in a U.S. government mission to evaluate missile‑defence systems. Investigators later discovered his supervisor had no record of such a deployment, and no Department of Energy program was found that would have required travel to either Yemen or Oman.
Links to Houthi‑associated contacts
FBI records reveal that Elaboudi discussed covert ingress and egress routes for Yemen and expressed a desire to reach the capital, Sana’a, to meet senior Houthi figures. Although he never entered the city, the affidavit notes he exchanged messages with several informants, one of whom posed as a Houthi colonel. In those communications, Elaboudi offered technical guidance on communications gear, ostensibly to strengthen the rebels’ capabilities.
Questionable equipment purchases
The probe also uncovered acquisitions that could be repurposed for improvised explosives and drone components. Prosecutors cite these purchases as key evidence supporting the indictment.
Federal terrorism indictment
Elaboudi now faces a federal charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a violation punishable under U.S. law. He is scheduled to appear before a judge, though no counsel was listed at the time of reporting. The case is in its early stages, with both the prosecution and defense expected to dispute the affidavit’s evidence.
