Iran-backed Houthis make gains in Red Sea
Reports indicate that the Iran-supported Houthi rebels have been making significant strides in the Red Sea region. In a related vein, President Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, as discussed by Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs.
A worker from the U.S. Department of Energy, Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly attempting to provide “material support” to the Iran-backed Houthis, according to the Department of Justice.
Ellaboudy is said to have tried to leverage his background in electrical engineering to assist the terrorist group in enhancing its mobile communications and acquiring components for drones and homemade explosives.
“As outlined in the allegations, a U.S. government employee traveled abroad and attempted to use his specialized skills to assist the Houthis, labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization with Iranian backing,” stated John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
He added, “Moreover, Ellaboudy sought materials to create explosives and drones capable of delivering those explosives. These accusations are profoundly disturbing and hard to comprehend.”
Federal authorities apprehended Ellaboudy following an investigation by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force.
According to court documents, the FBI’s interest in Ellaboudy was piqued after he allegedly purchased precursor chemicals and components typically associated with homemade explosives and drones.
In 2024, Ellaboudy reportedly took sick leave, claiming he had been exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid, a vital chemical in explosive fabrication.
In 2025, prosecutors argue that he used an official passport from a previous position with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to travel from Washington state to Oman and subsequently entered Yemen. Upon his return, he allegedly misled border officials by asserting it was government-approved travel.
The investigation revealed that Ellaboudy interacted with an undercover FBI source posing as a Houthi colonel’s representative.
According to claims, he tested solar generators, modified power systems, created circuit diagrams, and offered support for the Houthis’ communication systems.
“This person allegedly betrayed the U.S. by trying to support the Houthis, a recognized foreign terrorist group. Thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, his actions were uncovered, and he is now in custody,” remarked Jarod Brown, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.
Officials confirmed that Ellaboudy’s actions did not target any local nuclear facilities. “At no point did this matter involve a threat to the Hanford Site or its employees,” added Ray Geimer, the office manager for the Department of Energy’s Hanford Field Office.
Ellaboudy is facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. He is set to appear before a federal magistrate judge at 11 a.m. on October 2 in Richland, as per the Justice Department.
