FOR THE first month of their war on Iran, America and Israel mostly spared civilian infrastructure. In March bombers painstakingly picked around oil terminals and ports while attacking Kharg Island, an energy entrepot. A week later Donald Trump told Israel to stand down after its strikes on South Pars, a gasfield, provoked Iranian retaliation against Qatari natural-gas facilities and shook markets.
The war’s second month began rather differently. On April 2nd, as families picnicked in a nearby valley, America damaged the B1, Iran’s tallest bridge. (Iranian drones struck a Kuwaiti oil refinery in response.) Three days later Mr Trump threatened to obliterate more bridges and power plants unless Iran eases its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz within 72 hours.
