Commandos form 'ring of steel' around top secret nuclear and military bases amid fears of Iranian sabotage

Published: 11:24 EST, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 12:13 EST, 11 November 2026 Commandos are forming a ring of steel around sensitive military and nuclear bases amid threats of Iranian sabotage, the Daily Mail can reveal.Elite Royal Marines responsible for protecting top-secret sites are poised to repel drones operated by Tehran's agents. The Iranians are prepared to use Ukrainian-style guerrilla warfare tactics to target those locations, according to security sources.It comes as defence chiefs invest nearly half a billion pounds to strengthen security at bases across the country. Protection is being stepped up following the dispersal of US aircraft from RAF Mildenhall over fears of drone attacks.The Iranians are equipped with drones capable of penetrating aerial security systems which rely on so called ‘GPS geofencing’.Once inside the airspace, those drones could trigger a huge explosion simply by landing on the wing of an aircraft. Security sources have revealed an Iranian threat to UK military and nuclear facilities, alerting elite Royal Marines from 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group, which protects those sites Sites where security is being stepped up include His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde at FaslaneGlen Mallan ammunitions jetty on Loch Long is another where drone threats are causing worryA security source told the Mail: ‘The drone only needs to carry a small device. The fuel vapour from the wing tanks would act as a catalyst.‘That threat convinced US President Donald Trump to issue a direct instruction to relocate aircraft to less vulnerable sites.‘There is a live threat to British sites. Something going wrong at one of the Scottish sites would be very serious, as those facilities are of the highest strategic importance to Britain.‘There is a joint military, police and intelligence response.’Royal Marines have stepped up security at the Faslane and Coulport bases in Scotland, alongside Ministry of Defence (MOD) police officers and local constabularies.His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, commonly known as Faslane, is home to the UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines.The Royal Naval Armament Depot at Coulport is used for the storage, maintenance and loading of nuclear warheads.The Mail has also been told how MOD police patrols are being conducted in the neighbouring Loch Long and Gare Loch areas.Security sources are concerned the Iranians could additionally target the Finnart Oil Terminal – a deep water oil and fuel depot near Garelochhead and Glenmallan Jetty.Finnart was purchased by the MOD this year as a naval fuel depot and is run by the Oil and Pipelines Agency. The site was opened by the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins.Glenmallan Jetty is used to load conventional (non-nuclear) armaments on to warships from the Glen Douglas munitions storage site.It is the elite 43 Commando Fleet Protection Group which is responsible for protecting the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent and associated military sites.The 460-strong unit is based at Faslane on Scotland’s west coast and provides specialist personnel and teams. It operates alongside MOD Police and the Nuclear Transport Operations Group.The 43 Commando unit is split into four squadrons. O and P Sqns specialise in waterfront nuclear security and train for just the sort of challenge posed by Iranian sabotage squads.According to the MOD, their skills include ‘close quarter marksmanship and close quarter combat, night operations, operating in industrial and subterranean environments and small craft handling’.Today, the MOD said: ‘National security is the first duty of government and we take the security of our people, sites and local communities extremely seriously.'We are investing an additional £470million to strengthen security at military sites including £15million in drone and counter-drone technology.'We have introduced restricted airspace at over 44 critical defence sites with a further 155 to follow.'