Proportionate in war is not about going tit-for-tat. > The principle of proportionality prohibits attacks against military objectives which are “expected to ca

Proportionate in war is not about going tit-for-tat. > The principle of proportionality prohibits attacks against military objectives which are “expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated”. The way it's worded is to prevent destroying civilian targets for no military gain.