WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump on Saturday welcomed the start of Venezuela’s release of political prisoners, while issuing a reminder to Caracas about expectations and US leverage.

"Venezuela has started the process, in a big way, of releasing their political prisoners," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that he hopes those freed would “remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done,” and warned that forgetting “will not be good for them.”

The US carried out a Jan. 3 military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Trump said his administration would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.

Trump said Friday that he cancelled a second wave of military attacks on Venezuela, citing improved cooperation.

A US team of diplomatic and security personnel traveled Friday to Caracas to assess the possibility of resuming operations at the US Embassy.