  The honeycomb $K-\Gamma$ model is known to have both deconfined spin liquid
and confined phases. We study here a confinement transition between the Kitaev
spin liquid and a dimerized phase in the limit of strong bond anisotropy. By
partially projecting out Majorana states we are able to map the model onto a
model of weakly coupled Ising chains in a transverse field. Within this mapping
the ordered Ising phase corresponds to the condensation of $Z_2$ fluxes, or
confinement. Our results may improve our understanding of the extensively
studied spin liquid candidate material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, where $K-\Gamma$
interactions are dominant.
