The ip route del command is used to delete routes from the routing table in Linux. When there are multiple matching routes, the behavior of ip route del can depend on several factors, including how specifically the route is defined.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Exact Match: If you specify the exact route you want to delete (including the destination network, subnet mask, and optionally the gateway or interface), only that specific route will be deleted.

2. Multiple Matches: If the command matches multiple routes (for example, if you only specify the destination network without the subnet mask), the command will typically fail and ask you to be more specific. This is to prevent accidental deletion of multiple routes.

3. Using exact Keyword: You can use the exact keyword to ensure that only the exact route is deleted. For example:

   sh
    Copy

4. Wildcard Deletion: If you want to delete all routes that match a certain pattern, you might need to use a script or a loop to delete them one by one. For example:

   sh
    Copy

Here is a basic example of how to use the ip route del command:

sh
 Copy

In this example, if there is only one route that exactly matches 192.168.1.0/24, it will be deleted. If there are multiple routes that match this pattern, you will need to be more specific or use a script to delete them individually.

Always be cautious when deleting routes, as it can affect network connectivity. It's a good practice to double-check the routing table before and after making changes.

When there are multiple matching routes, the ip route del command typically deletes the first matching route it encounters. This behavior is noted in various sources, including a discussion on Stack Overflow where it is mentioned that if the ROUTE matches more than one route, it deletes the first matching routestackoverflow.com.

For more detailed or specific operations, such as deleting all routes matching a certain pattern, additional scripting or more specific commands may be required.