Yemeni leader and Saudi defense minister discussed in Riyadh efforts to renew the Yemeni truce that had expired on Oct. 2, Yemen's state television reported on Tuesday.

Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, met with Saudi minister Khalid bin Salman on Monday, discussing the latest developments and efforts to renew the truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group.

The Yemeni leader praised the role of the kingdom in leading an Arab coalition to support the Yemeni government.

For his part, the Saudi minister reiterated his country's support to back the legitimacy of the Yemeni government and all efforts to bring security, peace and stability to Yemen.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the country to the brink of starvation.

The truce first went into force on April 2, and then renewed twice through Oct. 2.

Last week, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced that no agreement had been reached to renew the expired truce between the Yemeni warring parties and called for continued efforts to facilitate the truce.