France on Tuesday reaffirmed its "full support" for Libya's unity government, seeking to mend fences after the interim leader demanded an explanation for the presence of French troops in the east of the conflict-ridden country.

The head of Libya's unity government has asked for an official explanation from Paris about the presence of French troops in the conflict-ridden country, a statement said on Tuesday.

Volunteers have recovered the bodies of 41 presumed migrants that washed up on a Libyan beach, an official from the coastal city of Sabratha said on Sunday.

A hospital in Libya's second city Benghazi said Friday it had received the bodies of 14 people killed execution-style, in what the U.N. envoy said was a "war crime."

The head of Libya's unity government said Sunday that only a united military bringing together all the country's armed factions would be able to defeat the Islamic State group.

Libya's unity government forces said Tuesday they were preparing for a final assault on the Islamic State group's stronghold of Sirte, after repelling multiple counter-attacks from the surrounded jihadists.

A suicide car bombing on Thursday killed 10 members of forces allied to Libya's unity government who are fighting the Islamic State jihadist group, hospital sources said.

Forces allied with Libya's unity government said Wednesday they had repelled a counter-attack by the Islamic State group in the jihadists' coastal stronghold of Sirte.

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday was set to authorize an EU naval force to enforce the arms embargo on Libya by intercepting ships suspected of carrying weapons to the Islamic State group and other militias.

The 15-member council was to vote on a resolution drafted by Britain and France that would expand the mission of Operation Sophia, which has been combating migrant-smuggling in the Mediterranean.

The head of Libya's unity government on Tuesday urged Libyans to rally behind forces battling to retake the city of Sirte from the Islamic State group.