{
  "id": 11291841,
  "title": "US government employee arrested on suspicion of providing support to Houthis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/us-government-employee-arrested-on-suspicion-of-providing-support-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T22:05:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/01/us-government-employee-arrested-on-suspicion-of-providing-support-to-houthis/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US Justice Department announced the arrest of Ashton Ellaboudy, a former Department of Energy employee, on Thursday. According to prosecutors, Ellaboudy is accused of providing support to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US.\n\nEllaboudy, who lived in Washington state, was taken into custody and is set to appear in court on Friday. The allegations against him include traveling overseas to assist the Houthis by using his specialized expertise, acquiring materials to build explosives for attaching to attack drones, and aiding the group in improving its communications.\n\nAssistant Attorney General John Eisenberg described the allegations as \"deeply disturbing,\" emphasizing that Ellaboudy's activities did not aim to harm the Hanford Field Office in Washington. The Department of Energy stated that Ellaboudy's alleged actions did not target their site or workforce.\n\nThe FBI learned of Ellaboudy's activities after receiving information about his purchase of precursor chemicals, components, and other materials used in homemade explosive devices in December 2024. In September 2025, Ellaboudy traveled from Richland, Washington, to Oman using a passport previously issued when he worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Once in Oman, he crossed the border into Yemen, aiming to reach Sanaa, the capital, which is under Houthi control.\n\nDuring his time in Yemen, Ellaboudy allegedly communicated with a high-ranking Houthi member who was actually an FBI source. They discussed acquiring and fitting out communications equipment for the group. If convicted, Ellaboudy could face up to 20 years in prison.",
  "summary": "The US Justice Department said on Thursday that agents have arrested a government employee accused of providing material support to Yemen's Houthi rebels . Ashton Ellaboudy, a veteran who worked in the local branch of the Department of Energy in Washington state, was taken into custody and is expected to appear in court on Friday. Mr Ellaboudy is accused of travelling overseas and using his…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "FBI arrests Energy Department employee accused of attempting to support Houthis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/fbi-arrests-energy-department-employee-accused-of-attempting-to",
        "published": "2026-10-01T21:54:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "US government employee arrested on suspicion of providing support to Houthis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/us-government-employee-arrested-on-suspicion-of-providing-support-to-11313124",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:05:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "FBI arrests Energy Department employee on charge of trying to support Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/fbi-arrests-energy-department-employee-on-charge-of-trying-to-support",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:16:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}