Israel bombed the center of Beirut for the first time in almost a year of hostilities with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as the military steps up air assaults following the killing of the Iran-backed group’s chief last week.

Hezbollah tried to project continuity of leadership and mission Saturday, saying it would continue “confronting the enemy.”

Hezbollah confirmed Saturday its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah—the target of Israel’s aerial bombardment on the group’s Beirut headquarters—was killed during the strike, a major victory for Israel but a further escalation in the conflict.