In a concerning development, salvagers have been forced to abandon their initial attempt to tow away a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea due to safety concerns, according to a statement from the European Union naval mission on Tuesday. The tanker, named Sounion, had been targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels and now remains stranded, with its cargo of 1 million barrels of oil at risk of spilling.

While a major spill has not yet occurred, the situation poses a significant threat and could potentially become one of the worst incidents caused by the Houthi rebels' campaign. Their actions have severely disrupted the Red Sea's crucial trade route, which handles an estimated $1 trillion in goods each year. Additionally, aid shipments to conflict-ravaged Sudan and Yemen have been halted due to the incident.

The private companies entrusted with the salvage operation concluded that the conditions were not suitable for towing the tanker and deemed it unsafe to proceed. The EU's Operation Aspides mission, responsible for overseeing maritime operations in the region, confirmed that alternative solutions are now being explored by the private companies involved. However, no further details regarding these alternative measures were provided.

Satellite images taken on Tuesday showed the Sounion still engulfed in flames, highlighting the potential challenges that salvagers may face. The safety concern primarily stems from the ongoing fire burning aboard the vessel, making the towing operation particularly risky.

Meanwhile, there is an additional threat posed by the Houthis, who recently targeted two other oil tankers navigating through the Red Sea. The rebels have suggested that they will permit a salvage operation to take place, but critics believe they may be leveraging the potential for an environmental disaster, as they have done previously, to extract concessions from the international community.

The initial attack on the Greek-flagged Sounion occurred on August 21 when the Houthis opened fire on the vessel using small arms, projectiles, and a drone boat. The crew of 25 Filipinos and Russians, along with four private security personnel, were successfully rescued by a French destroyer under Operation Aspides and were taken to Djibouti, located nearby.

In a propaganda video released by the rebels, it was revealed that explosives had been planted on board the Sounion and subsequently detonated. This tactic has been employed by the Houthis in their ongoing campaign.

Since the start of the conflict in Gaza last October, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant vessels using missiles and drones. While some attempts have been intercepted by the U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea, others have failed to reach their intended targets. The rebels claim that their actions are in response to Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza and specifically target ships connected to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. However, it is important to note that many of the vessels attacked have had little to no connection with the conflict, including those bound for Iran.

The situation surrounding the Sounion remains fluid, with concerns mounting about the potential environmental impact should a spill occur. Efforts to determine a safe and effective salvage operation to prevent such a disaster are now underway, as stakeholders closely monitor the developments in the Red Sea.