I don't see this as the "start" of the Ezekiel 38/39 war, but I do see the beginnings of the set up for it, because this current conflict is uniting the three major players of Ezekiel 38 war, Iran, Russia, and Turkey, but the groundwork is being setup, same as we see the set up being set for the Beast system laying down it's foundation.
It's more likely to see what's happening in the Middle East now to lead to the Isaiah 17 destruction of Damascus, which the prophecy teachers I listen to believe it will likely take place before the Tribulation begins.
Whatever comes of the Gaza warfront with Hamas, it's what's happening in the North, from Syria, that will add steam to Gog having that hook in his jaw draw Russia into the picture,
because though Hezbollah Has been striking from the North for some time as an Iranian proxy, Hezbollah has reportedly hesitated getting formally declaring a war with Israel,
LONDON — As Israeli troops move deeper south into the Gaza Strip with the goal of destroying Hamas, the world is closely watching what happens on Israel’s northern border, where its forces have engaged for weeks in intense clashes with another, more powerful foe, Hezbollah. Hezbollah, the...
news.yahoo.com
but I can see Israel getting where this "ceasefire " with Hamas isn't going to last, just as prior "cease fires" never have lasted, because Islam wants to annihilate Israel as a nation, because it's their religion, and written in their Koran that
Intifada (rebellion against Israel) is in their "blood" until Israel is "wiped off the map", and Iran will continue to sponsor the terrorist's attacks for the same reason, to annihilate the one they call "little satan".
And the attacks from Hezbollah in the North will continue and it will come to the point where the IDF will have to make the decision because their existence is at stake, and Israel will have no choice but to take out Damascus because that's where Iran keeps it's missile stockpiles, to provide Hezbollah with the arsenal to strike Israel, and those missiles are primarily underground like at the Damascus airports.
Russia already has been condemning Israel and making "threats", and
whenever Israel has made strikes in Damascus it infuriates Russia because Syria is Russia's ally, and has many interests in Syria.
Given its deep, multifaceted ties to Syria and its strategic posture toward the West, Moscow seems bent on supporting Assad to the bitter end.
www.washingtoninstitute.org
At the moment Russia has been very involved with the Ukraine war, and isn't ready to make a move on Israel.
And it's not for Russia to get militarily involved in this current conflict because it's not for Russia's interest, since the primary interest for Russia to come up against Israel will be Israel's wealth in resources as the Ezekiel 38:12-13 describes.
12" I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land."
Israel's riches at the moment are in oil, natural gas, and gold, all which have been in abundance as findings have been discovered just in this last century.
Now to the point of why this cannot be leading to Ezekiel 38/39 prophecy as of yet.....
This verse says it all very clearly...
11 "You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a
peaceful and
unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars."
Ezekiel 38:11
So, in order for Gog and Magog to be ready to "plunder" Israel, the state of Israel must be in a state of
peace .
Israel isn't close to this state of
peace yet.
I'm thinking that it will be The time of "
false peace" that will be the result of the very "covenant Antichrist will confirm " of Daniel 9:27.
This Ezekiel war would more than likely be
after the Rapture of the church.