War in the Middle East: who is Axios, this American media which sets the tone and multiplies the scoops?

Ultra-short articles, scoops regularly covered by all the international press, behind-the-scenes access to the Trump administration… Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East by Israeli-American strikes on Iran in February 2026, the American media Axios has set the tone for news of the war and has carved out a place of choice in the global media landscape.

Designed since its launch in 2017 to respond to new codes of production and reception of news, this information website was designed as a « mélange de The Economist et de Twitter ». In fact, it is difficult not to see the influence of social networks in his articles, the length of which rarely exceeds 300 words, and whose reading is made easier by writing punctuated with bullet points like a succinct summary of current events.

An offer that is all the more accessible as it is mostly free. Simply register free of charge to be able to read the articles published on the site. Paid subscriptions still represent part of the revenue of the media which belongs to the Cox group, these giving access to certain additional newsletters or to content reserved for professionals for a few thousand euros per year. For the rest, Axios’ financing is ensured by advertising partnerships, the organization of sponsored events or contributions from readers at the local level, details the media on its site.

Condensed information with high added value

Co-founded by three former Politico journalists including Jim VandeHei who told These in 2017 want “Reinventing journalism”Axios thus intends to respond to the thirst for information of an informed public far removed from traditional media by offering them condensed content with very high added value. A « smart friend » (intelligent friend, Editor’s note), defended his co-founder in the columns of Thesewhich would be responsible for sorting through the continuous flow of information that reaches the public to enable it to become « le plus intelligent possible ». Noble mission.

Although its success was almost immediate, the website has further gained influence in recent months by becoming the main provider of behind-the-scenes scoops on relations between Washington and Tehran. On March 8, barely a week after the conflict started, it was Axios which revealed the first dispute between the United States and Israel regarding the extent of the strikes carried out against Iranian fuel depots. On March 26, Axios also announced that the Pentagon was preparing a « coup final » in Iran including ground troops. In just a few days, the international press picked up and disseminated the information.

Barak Ravid, pro du scoop et de l’instantanéité

Since then, it is through this new generation media that the administration often seems to communicate, regularly entrusting it with short sentences concerning the progress of the negotiations or the demands of Donald Trump prior to the lifting of the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.

On June 7, it was Axios which announced the American president’s intention to call Benyamin Netanyahu, information taken up in particular by AFP. “I’m going to call Bibi (Netanyahu’s nickname, Editor’s note) right away to tell him not to retaliate. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”declared the American president according to Barak Ravid, who said he had spoken to him on the telephone.

With nearly half a million subscribers on X, this Israeli journalist has been in the spotlight since the start of the conflict. In addition to reporting for Axios every fragment of discussion and working scenario entrusted by the Trump administration – even if it does not implement them – Barak Ravid is also a correspondent in Washington for the Israeli channel N12 and serves as a political analyst on the American CNN. A pro of the scoop who gives Axios readers have instant access to current events, but without any real perspective or consolidation of the information. It is up to the reader to demonstrate a solid critical spirit when faced with the media’s revelations.

Axios wants to develop local information

Axios does not, however, only rely on international news to continue its rise. Ambitious, the pure player who will celebrate his first decade next year has set himself the objective in 2026 of developing his “Local Axios” version in ever more cities.

Already present in 34 locations, the American media wants to be at the origin of a “super system” local press for “Reviving information in every community, large or small”specifies its website. A challenge, in a country which has seen 39% of its local newspapers disappear in the space of twenty years, including 130 titles in 2024 alone, to the point that one in five Americans now lives in a “media desert”.