Who is John Abizaid?

The Lebanese American John Philip Abizaid is the current United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Abizaid is a former U.S. Central Command; he retired from the military after 34 years of service on May 1, 2007.

Furthermore, he started his service as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia in April 2019 after his nomination in November 2018.

Abizaid was born in the 1st of April 1951 in northern California. He graduated from(USMA) United States Military Academy in West Point 1973. He studied in Jordan University as well.

Due to his Arab roots, he learned to speak Arabic fluently in the military.

He is married with three children.

Abizaid's military history includes serving in 1983 invasion of Grenada, Persian Gulf War, in Bosnia and Kosovo.

During the period between 2003 to 2007, he was the top U.S. military officer for the Middle East.

He commented about the situation in Iraq in 2006 in a testimony saying, "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it, in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war."

He explained his optimism saying, "I'm optimistic that that slide toward civil war can be prevented"

King Salman received a number of ambassadors at Al-Salam palace in Jeddah on Sunday including Kazakhstan Ambassador Berik Aryn, Chinese Ambassador Chen Weiqing, Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed and American Ambassador John Abizaid.

King Salman with credential ambassadors at Al-Salam palace

Abizaid tweeted through Twitter account of U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia saying, "Today I was honored to present my diplomatic credentials to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques @KingSalman. I look forward to strengthening our bilateral partnership."

https://twitter.com/USAinKSA/status/1140299687817355264