ISTANBUL — An American pastor who had been jailed in Turkey for more than 1½ years on terror and espionage charges was released Wednesday and put under house arrest as his trial continues.

Andrew Craig Brunson, 50, an evangelical pastor originally from Black Mountain, N.C., was let out of jail to serve home detention because of ‘‘health problems,’’ Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency said.

Anadolu’s report did not specify the nature of Brunson’s health problems. He was arrested in December 2016.

A court in western Izmir province said Brunson would be electronically monitored and barred from leaving his house. He also is prohibited from leaving Turkey, where he has lived for 23 years and served as pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for ‘‘committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member,’’ references to outlawed Kurdish militants and the network of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for a failed coup attempt. He could receive another 20 years if he is found guilty of espionage.

Brunson strongly denies the charges.

The case has strained ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the news of Branson’s release from jail on Twitter, but called on Turkish authorities to drop the charges.

‘‘We have seen no credible evidence,’’ Pompeo wrote.

President Trump has repeatedly demanded Brunson’s release and said on Twitter last week that the pastor’s detention was ‘‘a total disgrace.’’

‘‘He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him!’’ Trump tweeted.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously linked Brunson’s return to the United States to the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey’s government holds responsible for the failed July 2016 military coup.

Gulen, who denies orchestrating the coup attempt, lives in Pennsylvania.

Turkish requests for his arrest and extradition have not been granted.

associated press