The legitimate Yemeni government stressed on Wednesday that it was keen on renewing the nationwide truce and avoid escalation in the conflict.

The two-month truce expired on Sunday after the parties failed to agree on its renewal. It was first adopted in April and extended twice since.

"We are determined to renew the ceasefire and address all problems through dialogue," Foreign Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak said during a visit to Morocco.

The UN-brokered ceasefire had brought a sharp reduction in hostilities and facilitated moves to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in the country, according to aid agencies.

Some 80 percent of the population relies on aid after eight years of war.

Bin Mubarak said the government wanted to preserve those gains.

"We have not made any escalatory moves, despite the Houthis announcing that the Red Sea is a military zone and directly threatening ships," he said.

The ceasefire had led to a 60 percent reduction in casualties and allowed fuel imports into the Houthi-held port of Hodeidah to quadruple, humanitarian groups said.

But UN envoy Hans Grundberg's proposal to extend the agreement again, adding further measures including allowing more fuel ships into Hodeidah and paying public sector salaries, was rejected by the Iran-backed Houthi militias who cited "false promises".