A Greek-owned oil tanker was ablaze and drifting in the Red Sea after what appeared to be the most successful attack on shipping by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis in more than two months.

The Sounion, carrying crude oil from the southern Iraqi port of Basra to an undisclosed destination, was hit about 77 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Houthi rebel group.

The strikes early on Wednesday were reported by the UK’s Dubai-based Maritime Trade Operations office (UK MTO), which did not identify the vessel. Greece’s Delta Tankers confirmed that the Sounion, which it manages, had been hit. The “Suezmax” vessel, able to carry about 1mn barrels of oil, is the largest type able to use the Suez Canal when laden with cargo.