diff --git a/docs/bash-tool-runtime.md b/docs/bash-tool-runtime.md
index 34b691174..ad1c73b80 100644
--- a/docs/bash-tool-runtime.md
+++ b/docs/bash-tool-runtime.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ There are no structured `head` or `tail` tool parameters in the current schema,
 
 ## 2) Optional interception (blocked-command path)
 
-If `bashInterceptor.enabled` is true, `BashTool` loads rules from settings (`getBashInterceptorRules()`) and runs `checkBashInterception()` against the command — checking both the original and the cwd-normalized form (after a leading `cd … &&` is extracted) when they differ.
+If `bashInterceptor.enabled` is true, `BashTool` loads rules from settings (`getBashInterceptorRules()`) and runs `checkBashInterception()` against the command — checking both the original and the cwd-normalized form (after a leading `cd … &&` is extracted) when they differ. Rule syntax is unchanged: each rule checks the complete input first, then raw flat command fragments separated by unquoted/unescaped `&&`, `||`, `;`, `|`, `&`, or newlines, then those fragments with leading `NAME=value` assignments removed.
 
 Interception behavior:
 
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ Interception behavior:
 - on block, `BashTool` throws `ToolError` with message:
   - `Blocked: ...`
   - original command included.
+- heredocs, command substitutions, backticks, grouping, and malformed quoting do not produce extra fragments; they retain only the complete-input check. Interception is best-effort routing to dedicated tools, not a shell-security policy.
 
 Default rule patterns (defined in code) target common misuses:
 
diff --git a/docs/settings.md b/docs/settings.md
index 7f5c2bb10..3f1bc3c4d 100644
--- a/docs/settings.md
+++ b/docs/settings.md
@@ -171,6 +171,21 @@ Valid rule approvals are `allow`, `prompt`, and `deny`. Critical bash commands s
 
 Matching is asymmetric so that rules mean what they appear to: `deny` and `prompt` rules fire when the glob matches the whole command **or any single segment** of a compound line (split on `&&`, `||`, `;`, `|`, a single `&`, subshells, and newlines), so `match: "rm -rf *"` still denies `cd /tmp && rm -rf build` and `sleep 1 & rm -rf build`. `allow` rules must match the **entire** command and never apply to a compound line, so a narrow allow such as `match: "git *"` cannot vouch for `git status && rm -rf /`.
 
+### Bash interceptor patterns
+
+`bashInterceptor` is separate from `bash.patterns`: it redirects Bash commands to dedicated tools rather than defining whether a command may execute. Enable it explicitly and configure regular-expression patterns with a replacement tool and a model-facing message:
+
+```yaml
+bashInterceptor:
+  enabled: true
+  patterns:
+    - pattern: '^\s*(cat|head|tail)\s+'
+      tool: read
+      message: "Use the read tool instead."
+```
+
+The named replacement tool must be available in the current session or the interceptor does not block the Bash call. For a detailed comparison of permission policy and dedicated-tool routing, including compound-command behavior and ordering, see [the Bash tool documentation](tools/bash.md#command-policy-and-dedicated-tool-routing).
+
 ### Worked example: global vs. project
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/docs/tools/bash.md b/docs/tools/bash.md
index e3e868cdd..89d1aac6f 100644
--- a/docs/tools/bash.md
+++ b/docs/tools/bash.md
@@ -52,11 +52,82 @@ The tool returns a single `text` content block plus optional `details`.
 
 Stdout and stderr are merged before the model sees them. Definite non-zero exit codes are appended to the returned error result text as `Command exited with code <n>`.
 
+## Command policy and dedicated-tool routing
+
+Two independent settings can prevent a Bash subprocess from starting. They serve different purposes and run at different points in the tool-call lifecycle.
+
+| Setting | Purpose | Rule syntax | Result when matched |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `bash.patterns` | Command-specific execution policy | Literal text with `*` wildcards | Allows the call, requests human approval, or denies it. |
+| `bashInterceptor.patterns` | Prefer a dedicated tool over Bash | JavaScript regular expression, optional flags, tool name, and message | Returns a Bash tool error telling the model to call the named dedicated tool instead. |
+
+### `bash.patterns`: permission policy
+
+`bash.patterns` is for commands that must be allowed, confirmed by a person, or refused regardless of whether another tool could perform the work. Rules are ordered; the first matching rule wins. Each rule has a `match` glob and an `approval` value of `allow`, `prompt`, or `deny`.
+
+```yaml
+bash:
+  patterns:
+    - match: "git *"
+      approval: allow
+    - match: "curl *"
+      approval: prompt
+    - match: "rm -rf *"
+      approval: deny
+```
+
+- `deny` stops the call before `BashTool.execute()` runs, including in `yolo` mode.
+- `prompt` displays an approval request. Only an accepted request proceeds to `BashTool.execute()`.
+- `allow` can lower the approval tier for a simple command, but it cannot approve a compound command. For example, `match: "git *"` does not approve `git status && rm -rf build`.
+- `deny` and `prompt` check the complete command and each shell command segment. A rule such as `match: "rm -rf *"` therefore catches `cd /tmp && rm -rf build`.
+
+Use this setting for safety and user control. It remains useful for commands with no appropriate replacement tool, such as destructive removal, network access, deployment scripts, or project-specific scripts.
+
+### `bashInterceptor.patterns`: dedicated-tool routing
+
+`bashInterceptor` is an opt-in routing layer (`bashInterceptor.enabled` defaults to `false`). It is for commands that are technically valid Bash but are better expressed through an available dedicated tool. Each pattern is a regular expression and includes the name of that replacement tool and the explanation shown to the model.
+
+```yaml
+bashInterceptor:
+  enabled: true
+  patterns:
+    - pattern: '^\s*(cat|head|tail)\s+'
+      tool: read
+      message: "Use the read tool instead; it handles binary files and provides better context."
+    - pattern: '^\s*(grep|rg)\s+'
+      tool: grep
+      message: "Use the grep tool instead; it respects .gitignore and returns structured results."
+```
+
+An interceptor rule only applies when its `tool` is available in the current session. If `read` is disabled, a `cat` rule targeting `read` does not block the Bash call. This makes the interceptor a best-effort capability preference rather than an execution-security boundary.
+
+The built-in default rules route common operations such as `cat` to `read`, `rg` to `grep`, in-place `sed` to `edit`, shell redirection to `write`, and unmanaged services/background processes to `hub`. See `DEFAULT_BASH_INTERCEPTOR_RULES` in `packages/coding-agent/src/config/settings-schema.ts` for the complete list.
+
+For compatibility with existing custom regexes, the interceptor always checks the complete original command first. It then checks raw, flat command fragments separated by unquoted and unescaped `&&`, `||`, `;`, `|`, `&`, or newlines. It also checks fragments after leading environment assignments are removed:
+
+```bash
+git add file && git commit -m "message"
+GIT_AUTHOR_NAME=Dev git commit -m "message"
+```
+
+An anchored rule such as `^\s*git\s+commit\b` can therefore match the `git commit` command in both examples. Quoted, escaped, and commented text is not treated as a command. Heredocs, command substitution, backticks, grouping, and malformed quoting retain only the complete-command check; the interceptor deliberately does not attempt to become a full shell parser.
+
+### Interaction and selection guide
+
+The approval policy is resolved before execution. A matching `bash.patterns` `deny` never reaches the interceptor. A matching `prompt` reaches the interceptor only after the user accepts the approval request. If an accepted call then matches an interceptor rule, the Bash call still does not run; the model receives the routing error and should invoke the dedicated tool.
+
+Avoid configuring the same operation in both places unless that two-step behavior is intended. For example, a `prompt` rule for `cat *` plus an enabled `cat`-to-`read` interceptor first asks the user to approve Bash, then rejects Bash and asks the model to use `read`.
+
+Choose the setting by the desired outcome:
+
+- Use `bash.patterns` when the question is **whether the command may execute**.
+- Use `bashInterceptor.patterns` when the question is **which tool should perform the operation**.
+
 ## Flow
 1. `BashTool.execute()` in `packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash.ts` reads `command`, normalizes `env`, and defaults `timeout` to `300`. Commands execute exactly as written — there is no pre-execution rewrite pass.
 2. If `cwd` is absent, it rewrites a leading `cd <path> && ...` into the structured `cwd` field and strips that prefix from `command`.
 3. If `async: true` is requested while `async.enabled` is off, it throws `ToolError` before any execution.
-4. If `bashInterceptor.enabled` is on, `checkBashInterception()` runs against both the original command and the `cd`-stripped command. A matching enabled rule throws before URL expansion or execution.
+4. If `bashInterceptor.enabled` is on, `checkBashInterception()` runs against both the original command and the `cd`-stripped command. For each form, configured regexes still check the complete input first, then each flat command separated by unquoted/unescaped `&&`, `||`, `;`, `|`, `&`, or newlines, followed by versions of those fragments without leading `NAME=value` assignments. A matching enabled rule throws before URL expansion or execution.
 5. `expandInternalUrls()` rewrites supported internal URLs inside `command`, each `env` value, and protocol-looking `cwd` values. Command replacements are shell-escaped; `env` and `cwd` replacements use raw filesystem/string values because they are not interpolated into shell text.
 6. `resolveToCwd()` resolves `cwd` against `session.cwd`; `fs.stat()` verifies that the target exists and is a directory.
 7. `clampTimeout("bash", requestedTimeoutSec)` enforces `TOOL_TIMEOUTS.bash` (`default: 300`, `min: 1`, `max: 3600`). When clamped, `#buildCompletedResult()` / `#buildBackgroundStartResult()` append a notice line.
@@ -150,6 +221,7 @@ Stdout and stderr are merged before the model sees them. Definite non-zero exit
 - `strict = true` is set on `BashTool`; `concurrency` is resolved per call: `pty: true` is `"exclusive"` (it takes over the terminal UI), everything else is `"shared"`, so multiple non-pty bash calls in one assistant message run in parallel. When parallel calls overlap on the same shell session key, the first owns the persistent `Shell`; the rest run in isolated one-shot shells (see `shellSessionsInUse` in `bash-executor.ts`).
 - `command` URL expansions shell-escape replacements; `env` and `cwd` expansion use `noEscape: true` because they become environment values / filesystem paths, not shell text.
 - `checkBashInterception()` blocks only when the matching rule's `tool` name is present in `ctx.toolNames`; missing tools disable their corresponding rule.
+- Interceptor configuration syntax is unchanged. It handles common flat command lists, not full shell parsing: heredocs, command substitution, backticks, grouping, and malformed quoting only receive the existing whole-input check. This is best-effort routing toward dedicated tools, not a security boundary.
 - Default interceptor rules come from `DEFAULT_BASH_INTERCEPTOR_RULES` in `packages/coding-agent/src/config/settings-schema.ts`:
   - `cat|head|tail|less|more` -> `read`
   - `grep|rg|ripgrep|ag|ack` -> `grep`
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
index 25c809467..f08b69980 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed Bash interceptor rules matching only the complete command input, so an anchored rule such as `^\s*git\s+commit\b` missed a later command in a flat compound command. Rules now also inspect unquoted/unescaped `&&`, `||`, `;`, `|`, `&`, and newline-separated command fragments, including forms with leading environment-variable assignments, while retaining the original whole-input match and conservatively skipping complex shell syntax.
+
 ## [17.2.1] - 2026-07-30
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash-interceptor.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash-interceptor.ts
index 8fca9e981..6d2e83613 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash-interceptor.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash-interceptor.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  * the specialized tools instead.
  */
 import { type BashInterceptorRule, DEFAULT_BASH_INTERCEPTOR_RULES } from "../config/settings-schema";
+import { extractFlatShellCommandSegments } from "./shell-tokenize";
 
 export interface InterceptionResult {
 	/** If true, the bash command should be blocked */
@@ -32,6 +33,78 @@ function compileRules(rules: BashInterceptorRule[]): Array<{ rule: BashIntercept
 	return compiled;
 }
 
+/** Finds the end of a shell word, respecting quotes and escapes; returns null for incomplete syntax. */
+function skipShellWord(command: string, start: number): number | null {
+	let inSingle = false;
+	let inDouble = false;
+	for (let i = start; i < command.length; i++) {
+		const ch = command[i];
+		if (inSingle) {
+			if (ch === "'") inSingle = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (inDouble) {
+			if (ch === "\\") {
+				if (i + 1 >= command.length) return null;
+				i++;
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (ch === '"') inDouble = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === "'") {
+			inSingle = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === '"') {
+			inDouble = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === "\\") {
+			if (i + 1 >= command.length) return null;
+			i++;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === " " || ch === "\t") return i;
+	}
+	return inSingle || inDouble ? null : command.length;
+}
+
+/** Removes leading `NAME=value` assignments without interpreting shell syntax. */
+function withoutLeadingEnvironmentAssignments(command: string): string | null {
+	let index = 0;
+	let foundAssignment = false;
+	while (index < command.length) {
+		while (command[index] === " " || command[index] === "\t") index++;
+		const assignmentStart = index;
+		if (!/[A-Za-z_]/.test(command[index] ?? "")) break;
+		let nameEnd = index + 1;
+		while (/[A-Za-z0-9_]/.test(command[nameEnd] ?? "")) nameEnd++;
+		if (command[nameEnd] !== "=") {
+			return foundAssignment ? command.slice(assignmentStart).trimStart() : null;
+		}
+		const wordEnd = skipShellWord(command, nameEnd + 1);
+		if (wordEnd === null) return null;
+		foundAssignment = true;
+		index = wordEnd;
+		if (index === command.length) return null;
+	}
+	if (!foundAssignment) return null;
+	const commandWithoutAssignments = command.slice(index).trimStart();
+	return commandWithoutAssignments.length > 0 ? commandWithoutAssignments : null;
+}
+
+function interceptionCandidates(command: string): string[] {
+	const candidates = [command.trim()];
+	const segments = extractFlatShellCommandSegments(command);
+	candidates.push(...segments.map(segment => segment.trim()));
+	for (const segment of segments) {
+		const withoutAssignments = withoutLeadingEnvironmentAssignments(segment);
+		if (withoutAssignments) candidates.push(withoutAssignments);
+	}
+	return candidates;
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if a bash command should be intercepted.
  *
@@ -43,10 +116,10 @@ export function checkBashInterception(
 	command: string,
 	availableTools: string[],
 	rules: BashInterceptorRule[] = DEFAULT_BASH_INTERCEPTOR_RULES,
+	originalCommand = command,
 ): InterceptionResult {
-	// Normalize command for pattern matching
-	const normalizedCommand = command.trim();
 	const compiled = compileRules(rules);
+	const candidates = interceptionCandidates(command);
 
 	for (const { rule, regex } of compiled) {
 		// Only block if the suggested tool is actually available
@@ -54,12 +127,16 @@ export function checkBashInterception(
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (regex.test(normalizedCommand)) {
-			return {
-				block: true,
-				message: `Blocked: ${rule.message}\n\nOriginal command: ${command}`,
-				suggestedTool: rule.tool,
-			};
+		for (const candidate of candidates) {
+			// A configured global or sticky regex carries state across calls.
+			regex.lastIndex = 0;
+			if (regex.test(candidate)) {
+				return {
+					block: true,
+					message: `Blocked: ${rule.message}\n\nOriginal command: ${originalCommand}`,
+					suggestedTool: rule.tool,
+				};
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash.ts
index 0d7fffeb7..6b1e79ec5 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/bash.ts
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ export class BashTool implements AgentTool<typeof bashSchemaBase | typeof bashSc
 			const rules = this.session.settings.getBashInterceptorRules();
 			const commandsToCheck = rawCommand === command ? [command] : [rawCommand, command];
 			for (const commandToCheck of commandsToCheck) {
-				const interception = checkBashInterception(commandToCheck, ctx?.toolNames ?? [], rules);
+				const interception = checkBashInterception(commandToCheck, ctx?.toolNames ?? [], rules, rawCommand);
 				if (interception.block) {
 					throw new ToolError(interception.message ?? "Command blocked");
 				}
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/shell-tokenize.ts b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/shell-tokenize.ts
index a0541ab67..3e3da1dc7 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/shell-tokenize.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/src/tools/shell-tokenize.ts
@@ -81,3 +81,97 @@ export function tokenizeShellSegments(command: string): string[][] {
 	pushSegment();
 	return segments;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the original text of flat shell command segments. Unlike
+ * `tokenizeShellSegments`, this preserves quoting and escaping so the results
+ * are safe to match against user-configured regular expressions.
+ *
+ * The extractor deliberately declines to split syntax whose execution context
+ * cannot be determined with this small scanner (heredocs, command substitution,
+ * backticks, grouping, and malformed quoting). Callers must still check the
+ * complete input in that case.
+ */
+export function extractFlatShellCommandSegments(command: string): string[] {
+	const segments: string[] = [];
+	let segmentStart = 0;
+	let inSingle = false;
+	let inDouble = false;
+	let atWordStart = true;
+
+	const pushSegment = (end: number) => {
+		const segment = command.slice(segmentStart, end).trim();
+		if (segment.length > 0) segments.push(segment);
+	};
+
+	for (let i = 0; i < command.length; i++) {
+		const ch = command[i];
+		if (inSingle) {
+			if (ch === "'") inSingle = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (inDouble) {
+			if (ch === "\\") {
+				if (i + 1 >= command.length) return [];
+				i++;
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (ch === '"') {
+				inDouble = false;
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (ch === "`" || (ch === "$" && command[i + 1] === "(")) return [];
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (ch === "'") {
+			inSingle = true;
+			atWordStart = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === '"') {
+			inDouble = true;
+			atWordStart = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === "\\") {
+			if (i + 1 >= command.length) return [];
+			i++;
+			atWordStart = false;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (
+			ch === "`" ||
+			ch === "(" ||
+			ch === ")" ||
+			(ch === "$" && command[i + 1] === "(") ||
+			(ch === "<" && command[i + 1] === "<") ||
+			((ch === "{" || ch === "}") &&
+				atWordStart &&
+				(command[i + 1] === undefined || /[ \t\n;]/.test(command[i + 1])))
+		) {
+			return [];
+		}
+		if (ch === "#" && atWordStart) {
+			pushSegment(i);
+			const newline = command.indexOf("\n", i + 1);
+			if (newline === -1) return segments;
+			i = newline;
+			segmentStart = newline + 1;
+			atWordStart = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+		if (ch === "\n" || ch === ";" || ch === "|" || ch === "&") {
+			pushSegment(i);
+			if ((ch === "|" || ch === "&") && command[i + 1] === ch) i++;
+			segmentStart = i + 1;
+			atWordStart = true;
+			continue;
+		}
+		atWordStart = ch === " " || ch === "\t";
+	}
+
+	if (inSingle || inDouble) return [];
+	pushSegment(command.length);
+	return segments;
+}
diff --git a/packages/coding-agent/test/tools/bash-interceptor.test.ts b/packages/coding-agent/test/tools/bash-interceptor.test.ts
index d9309ccb8..8b1a38fdc 100644
--- a/packages/coding-agent/test/tools/bash-interceptor.test.ts
+++ b/packages/coding-agent/test/tools/bash-interceptor.test.ts
@@ -54,11 +54,86 @@ describe("BashTool interception", () => {
 			},
 		]);
 
+		const command = "cd packages/coding-agent && cat package.json";
 		await expect(
-			tool.execute("tool-call", { command: "cd packages/coding-agent && cat package.json" }, undefined, undefined, {
+			tool.execute("tool-call", { command }, undefined, undefined, {
 				toolNames: ["read"],
 			} as AgentToolContext),
-		).rejects.toThrow("Use read instead");
+		).rejects.toThrow(`Use read instead.\n\nOriginal command: ${command}`);
+	});
+});
+
+describe("compound command interception", () => {
+	const rules: BashInterceptorRule[] = [
+		{
+			pattern: "^\\s*git\\s+commit\\b",
+			tool: "commit",
+			message: "Use the commit tool instead.",
+		},
+	];
+
+	it.each([
+		"git commit -m message",
+		"git add file && git commit -m message",
+		"git add file; git commit -m message",
+		"git add file || git commit -m message",
+		"git add file | git commit -m message",
+		"git add file & git commit -m message",
+		"git add file\ngit commit -m message",
+	])("blocks a later command after %s", command => {
+		expect(checkBashInterception(command, ["commit"], rules).block).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it("removes one or more leading environment assignments before matching", () => {
+		expect(
+			checkBashInterception('GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL="a@example.com" git commit -m message', ["commit"], rules).block,
+		).toBe(true);
+		expect(
+			checkBashInterception(
+				'GIT_AUTHOR_EMAIL="a@example.com" GIT_AUTHOR_NAME=Dev git commit -m message',
+				["commit"],
+				rules,
+			).block,
+		).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it("does not treat quoted, escaped, or commented text as a later command", () => {
+		for (const command of [
+			"printf '%s\\n' \"git add file && git commit -m message\"",
+			'echo "git commit"',
+			"echo git\\ commit",
+			"echo ok # git commit -m message",
+		]) {
+			expect(checkBashInterception(command, ["commit"], rules).block).toBe(false);
+		}
+	});
+
+	it("does not add matches for unsupported shell syntax", () => {
+		for (const command of [
+			'echo "$(git commit -m message)"',
+			"echo `git commit -m message`",
+			"( git commit -m message )",
+			"echo start; { true; git commit -m message; }",
+			"cat <<'EOF'\ngit commit -m message\nEOF",
+		]) {
+			expect(checkBashInterception(command, ["commit"], rules).block).toBe(false);
+		}
+	});
+
+	it("keeps matching a rule written for the complete original input", () => {
+		const command = "git add file && git commit -m message";
+		const completeInputRule: BashInterceptorRule[] = [
+			{
+				pattern: "^git add file && git commit",
+				tool: "commit",
+				message: "Use the commit tool instead.",
+			},
+		];
+		expect(checkBashInterception(command, ["commit"], completeInputRule).block).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	it("does not block when the suggested tool is unavailable", () => {
+		expect(checkBashInterception("git add file && git commit -m message", [], rules).block).toBe(false);
 	});
 });