Popular leftist streamer Hasan Piker said in an interview published on Thursday that the U.S. military has committed, based on number of people killed, more terrorism than Al Qaeda, the radical Islamic network behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

“Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes,” Piker told "The Axios Show," responding to questions about a comment he'd made describing America as "the top dog in terrorism." 

Michigan Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, had Piker campaign for him in the primary, and Piker's controversial comments have been the basis for Republican attacks on El-Sayed. 

In the interview, Piker added that the U.S. has "caused tremendous terror all around the world." He offered as an example an accidental missile strike on an elementary school for girls at the beginning of the war in Iran on Feb. 28. 

“If you’re killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror. This doesn’t mean that all Americans are terrorists, but the reality of the matter is we have to create an environment of accountability to ensure things like that never happen again," Piker said.

Piker has previously stated that America "deserved 9/11," which he partially walked back later.