A US Department of Energy electrical engineer has been arrested on charges of providing support to the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, including by buying materials for homemade explosives and drones and traveling to Yemen, according to the Associated Press, in a text republished by WGEM.

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and is due to make his first court appearance Friday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says he had a goal of helping the Houthis improve their communications capabilities and traveled last September to Yemen.