Several people are reported to have survived the attack, but it is still unclear how many.
This is the sixth American attack on a boat in the area in the last month. Washington has since the beginning of September struck against what one calls "narcotics boats" off the coast of Venezuela. In the previous five attacks, at least 27 people are reported to have been killed.
As recently as on Wednesday, President Donald Trump gave the CIA a go-ahead to carry out secret operations inside Venezuela. The decision means a sharp escalation in terms of the US's attempts to put pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump accuses of being involved in narcotics smuggling to the US. Maduro responded by condemning what he claims is a "coup orchestrated by the CIA" and has denied connections to narcotics smuggling.