On November 20, 2024, a source reported that the Houthi movement, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has released an employee from the DeepRoot organization, who had been detained since before June in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.

According to Faris Al-Hemiary, a correspondent for China's Xinhua News Agency in Yemen, the released individual, Mohamed Al-Aqel, served as the financial and administrative officer for DeepRoot, an organization focused on development in Yemen.

Al-Hamiri shared the news in a post on X, stating that Al-Aqel was apprehended during a large-scale crackdown by the Houthis in June, which targeted dozens of Yemeni employees working for various international, national, and local NGOs.

In June, the Houthi group conducted extensive arrests, detaining many humanitarian and development workers as part of their campaign against perceived threats.