Senior Policy Analyst at @JINSADC | previously @CNA_org | Alum @ColumbiaSIPA. Views my own. RT/Like ≠ endorsement.
Joined September 2020
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Today’s @WSJ story on underground warfare in Ukraine highlights the hidden threat layer facing US partners & America at home.
Just 2 days ago, @jinsadc released a report on this subject from Israel’s subterranean warfare commander in Gaza & Lebanon. It’s essential reading to grasp future - and present - warfare.
jinsa.org/jinsa_report/subte…
Ukraine and Russia are going head-to-head underground, with soldiers from both sides crawling through of miles of Soviet-era gas pipelines to get behind enemy lines on.wsj.com/4zHNmd7
Yoni Tobin retweeted
👀Can you spot the difference?
One is under Gaza.
The other leads from Mexico into the United States.
It's never been easier for cartels & terrorists to procure commercially available equipment + expertise for tunnel construction through near-frictionless int'l networks. 1/🧵
Yoni Tobin retweeted
For more on the report, check out our thread 👇
xitter.cf/jinsadc/status/2112654…
These steps are great, but the priority should be getting these unmanned platforms to “talk” to each other and manned platforms.
I discussed why that’s so vital in a recent piece w/ former Asst. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral (ret.) Michael Connor in @DefenseScoop
Read more below.
defensescoop.com/2026/10/07/…
How The U.S. Army’s ‘Navy’ Aims To Go More Autonomous With Its Vessels In The Pacific
The Army wants to buy up to 100 new USVs and add autonomous capabilities into existing crewed vessels.
twz.com/sea/how-the-u-s-army…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
The Blockade on Iran Is Now Hitting Home
maritime-executive.com/edito…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
Just as Ukraine’s battlefield experience has accelerated advances in drone warfare, Israel’s sustained combat against Hamas and Hezbollah has produced hard-won lessons in detecting, mapping, and neutralizing sophisticated underground networks.
Fortunately, like Ukraine, Israel now has dozens of high-tech inventions + lessons for combating tunnel threats.
The United States should study Israel’s setbacks and successes, and deepen bilateral subterranean warfare R&D, training, intel sharing, and other cooperation. 8/
Yoni Tobin retweeted
🚨 Israel’s tunnel warfare lessons could reshape U.S. defenses against Iran, Russia & North Korea.
A new @JINSADC report by @TobinYoni and a former IDF Yahalom commander urges expanded U.S.-Israel cooperation, from battlefield tech to joint drills in South Korea.
jewishonliner.org/p/jinsa-is…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
⛰️ The report is coauthored by the man who commanded Israel's counter-tunnel operations post-Oct. 7.
It also features photos of subterranean Hezbollah facilities and Hamas holding cells and tunnels in Rafah big enough to drive a Jeep through.
@axios axios.com/2026/10/20/idf-und…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
The report answers vital questions that, until now, have largely remained mysteries:
1⃣How did Hamas and Hezbollah build their underground war infrastructure?
2⃣How did subterranean sites advance their tactics and strategy?
3⃣What technologies are most effective vs. subterranean threats?
4⃣How does Israel see the underground threat domain evolving?
5⃣How prepared is the U.S. against cross-border tunnel threats?
6/
Yoni Tobin retweeted
I know let’s boycott them!
Exclusive: What Israel's underground war can teach other militaries axios.com/2026/10/20/idf-und…
This says it all. As the @axios exclusive on my report notes, Israel is uniquely capable of helping America defend against subterranean threats - if we just let it.
The subterranean domain is among the most dangerous for modern militaries - and the least well understood.
For the first time ever, in a new JINSA report, the IDF’s top tunnel warfare commander reveals what America must do to prepare for the underground threats it now faces on its own border.
My latest report for @jinsadc, covered exclusively today by @axios
@demarest_colin
Exclusive: What Israel's underground war can teach other militaries axios.com/2026/10/20/idf-und…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
"Subterranean Warfare - An Urgent @DeptofWar Need Without An Owner," great piece by @sgblank There is no office, branch, school, or true proponent that owns SubT. I've watched for over a decade episodic work on it. From the 2019 Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) mobile training teams, @USArmy doctrine publication to @DARPA experiments. There are those of us ready, from @elonmusk @PalmerLuckey @anduriltech @traysartech @yadinsoffer @wolfejosh @SecWar @PeteHegseth
thecipherbrief.com/subterran…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
Last month, Ukrainian and Russian drone boats fought each other at sea – the first such battle ever.
Warfare is evolving. This requires “greater strategic imagination” by the Pentagon, former Asst. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations VADM (ret.) Michael Connor and @TobinYoni argue in @DefenseScoop.
defensescoop.com/2026/10/07/…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
Several European countries are trying to block Israel’s ability to make & test submarines.
Former Pentagon intel director Rear Adm. Paul Becker & @TobinYoni warn in @algemeiner these actions are undermining the West’s deterrence vs. Russia & Iran. These steps, ironically, also hurt Europe – which relies on Israeli defense tech – the most. @BeckerT3Group
algemeiner.com/2026/10/08/ai…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
75+ U.S. military leaders have one clear message: the facts do not support claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
Misapplying the laws of armed conflict to Israel today sets a dangerous precedent for American forces tomorrow.
Read the letter: jinsa.org/open-letter-from-m…
Yoni Tobin retweeted
Breaking: "As retired senior military leaders and legal experts, on this, the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023 brutal attack on Israel, we reject claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza." @jinsadc
I am honored to be a part of 76 retired U.S. officers (including 13 Generals, 27 Lieutenant Generals, 19 Major Generals, 5 Brigadier Generals) Refuting the Genocide Allegation Against Israel.
jinsa.org/wp-content/uploads…
"The precedent established today regarding Israel will shape the conditions under which American forces fight tomorrow. Protecting civilians and preserving the ability of our nation to defend itself requires us to defend the truth when the laws of war are being distorted to make false charges of genocide."
Yoni Tobin retweeted
Please read and share widely
Over 75 senior retired 🇺🇸U.S. generals, admirals, and military lawyers have signed a new open letter rejecting claims that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
The signatories include those who have commanded U.S. armed forces in combat, applying the laws of armed conflict.
Their conclusion: based on the facts and applicable legal standard, the conduct of Israel’s war against Hamas does not constitute genocide.
As the letter states, “Civilian deaths occurring during combat, however tragic, are insufficient, by themselves, to support a finding of genocidal intent.”
The standards used to judge military conduct matter precisely because war is tragic and imperfect.
“The precedent established today regarding Israel will shape the conditions under which American forces fight tomorrow. Protecting civilians and preserving the ability of our nation to defend itself requires us to defend the truth when the laws of war are being distorted to make false charges of genocide.”
This is not an argument for minimizing the suffering of civilians. It is an argument for applying the law faithfully and maintaining the distinctions that matter: between the tragic consequences of war, violations of the laws of armed conflict, and the specific crime of genocide.
Read the full open letter here: jinsa.org/open-letter-from-m…
