FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen

111 reports from 110 outlets in 8 languages · first reported 2026-10-01 12:00 UTC · updated 2026-10-02 23:23 UTC · JSON

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old engineer from Washington, was arrested by the FBI on charges of attempting to provide support to the Houthi rebels in Yemen^[1–10]. Ellaboudy, who works for the US Department of Energy, is scheduled for his first court appearance^{[1, 7]}. According to the US Department of Justice, he is accused of trying to offer material and expertise to the Houthis, who are backed by Iran^{[4, 5, 8]}.

This brief was written by a language model from the reports below; bracketed numbers link to them. Check the reports for anything that matters.

Reports

1. FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in YemenPublished by thehindu.com, citizensvoice.com, mcall.com, eptrail.com, bostonherald.com, times-standard.com, sandiegouniontribune.com, courant.com, dailycamera.com, advocate-news.com, fortmorgantimes.com, mendocinobeacon.com and 15 more · 2026-10-02 23:23 UTC
2. Energy Department employee arrested in Washington state on attempted support for HouthisPublished by komonews.com, wjactv.com, kpic.com, cbs2iowa.com, upnorthlive.com, ktxs.com, wach.com, foxbaltimore.com, foxsanantonio.com, ktul.com, 13wham.com, kfoxtv.com and 8 more · 2026-10-01 23:10 UTC
3. 51-year-old US Energy Dept official arrested for allegedly aiding Yemen's HouthisPublished by webindia123.com, heraldglobe.com, iraqsun.com, iranherald.com, kenyastar.com, arabherald.com, bignewsnetwork.com, middleeaststar.com, aninews.in · 2026-10-02 06:24 UTC
4. FBI Arrests Energy Department Employee on Charge of Trying to Support HouthisPublished by english.aawsat.com, aawsat.com, wttf.com, coast1009.com, abcnews.com, wohfradio.com, wlec.com · 2026-10-02 09:17 UTC
5. Richland DOE employee arrested on charges of attempting to support HouthisPublished by hometownregister.com, sanfordherald.com, homenewshere.com, hazard-herald.com, vtcng.com · 2026-10-01 22:00 UTC
6. FBI arrests federal employee on charge of trying to support HouthisPublished by wgauradio.com, wokv.com, wdbo.com · 2026-10-02 02:04 UTC
7. US Energy Department engineer arrested over alleged support for HouthisPublished by middleeastmonitor.com, Anadolu Agency (English) · 2026-10-02 13:59 UTC
8. US Energy Department staffer faces up to 20 years for alleged effort to aid HouthisPublished by jns.org, clevelandjewishnews.com · 2026-10-02 13:00 UTC
9. US Energy engineer held for allegedly aiding Houthi rebels with dronesPublished by wn.com, indiatoday.in · 2026-10-02 04:15 UTC
10. Funcionário federal detido por alegado apoio aos houthisPublished by sapo.pt, observador.pt · 2026-10-01 23:07 UTC
11. Richland Department of Energy employee arrested for allegedly attempting to aid Iran-backed HouthisPublished by khq.com, nbcrightnow.com · 2026-10-01 21:56 UTC
12. Department of Energy Employee Arrested in Washington State on Charges of Attempted Material Support to HouthisPublished by US Department of Justice press releases, US Department of Justice press releases · 2026-10-01 12:00 UTC
13. US Energy Department engineer arrested over alleged Houthi supportnews.az · en · 2026-10-02 21:21 UTC
14. US Energy Department Engineer Arrested For Allegedly Aiding Houthisdailycaller.com · en · 2026-10-02 20:15 UTC
15. Federal worker accused of trying to help Houthi terroristscrossmap.com · en · 2026-10-02 18:37 UTC
16. Energy Department Employee Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Aid Iran-Backed Houthistheepochtimes.com · en · 2026-10-02 18:06 UTC
17. Feds arrest Department of Energy engineer for allegedly helping Houthis * WorldNetDaily * by Paris Apodaca, Daily Caller News Foundationwnd.com · en · 2026-10-02 17:39 UTC
18. Report: US Energy Department employee questioned by FBI on suspicion of aiding Houthisynet.co.il · he · 2026-10-02 17:19 UTC
19. Feds arrest U.S. Energy Dept. employee accused of attempting to aid Iran-backed Houthisoann.com · en · 2026-10-02 16:11 UTC
20. Federal Energy Employee Arrested for Allegedly Helping Houthisnewsweek.com · en · 2026-10-02 15:31 UTC
21. Energy Department Engineer Accused Of Supporting Houthi Rebels – Tickle The Wireticklethewire.com · en · 2026-10-02 13:41 UTC
22. US govt official arrested on charges of supporting Iran-backed Houthis, buying bomb-making materialsindiatimes.com · en · 2026-10-02 13:29 UTC
23. Energy Dept. Employee Accused of Attempting to Help Houthislegalinsurrection.com · en · 2026-10-02 13:00 UTC
24. Energy Department employee arrested on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthiswndu.com · en · 2026-10-02 11:39 UTC
25. DOE employee arrested by FBI for allegedly trying to support Houthis in Yemencbsnews.com · en · 2026-10-02 09:03 UTC
26. DPA: Angajat al guvernului SUA, arestat pentru presupus sprijin acordat rebelilor HouthiDPA: US government employee arrested for alleged support of Houthi rebelsbursa.ro · ro · 2026-10-02 07:41 UTC
27. JAV vyriausybės darbuotojas sulaikytas dėl įtariamos paramos husiamsUS government employee detained for suspected support of Hutsulslrytas.lt · lt · 2026-10-02 07:26 UTC
28. FBI-ja arreston një punonjës të qeverisë amerikane për mbështetje ndaj Huthive: Dyshohet se ka ndihmuar në komunikimet e tyregazetaexpress.com · en · 2026-10-02 05:44 UTC
29. Арестуваха американски правителствен служител заради обвинения в подкрепа на хуситеAmerican government official arrested on charges of supporting the Houthisfakti.bg · bg · 2026-10-02 05:36 UTC
30. US Energy Department employee charged with aiding Houthisprod-qt-images.s3.amazonaws.com · en · 2026-10-02 03:27 UTC
31. VS-overheidsmedewerker gearresteerd om vermeende steun Houthi’sUS government employee arrested for alleged support of Houthishln.be · nl · 2026-10-02 03:24 UTC
32. FBI arrests former DOE employee for allegedly providing materials, expert assistance to Houthisjpost.com · he · 2026-10-02 01:50 UTC
33. U.S. Department of Energy employee charged with trying to aid Yemen's Houthisbnonews.com · en · 2026-10-02 01:29 UTC
34. US arrests Energy Department employee under claims of backing Yemen's Houthismiddleeasteye.net · en · 2026-10-02 01:15 UTC
35. FBI Terrorism Task Force Arrests DOE Employee Charged With Trying to Help Houthis in Yemenredstate.com · en · 2026-10-02 00:46 UTC
36. US energy department engineer arrested for allegedly helping Iran-backed Houthistimesofindia.indiatimes.com · en · 2026-10-02 00:19 UTC
37. Arab News | FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemenarabnews.com · en · 2026-10-01 22:46 UTC
38. FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen – Winnipeg Free Presswinnipegfreepress.com · en · 2026-10-01 22:16 UTC
39. US government employee arrested on suspicion of providing support to Houthisthenationalnews.com · en · 2026-10-01 22:05 UTC
40. FBI arrests Energy Department employee accused of attempting to support Houthisthehill.com · en · 2026-10-01 21:54 UTC