Kabul was gutted, right? Rebuilt defensive fortifications (8)
I believe the answer is:
bulwarks
'defensive fortifications' is the definition.
'bulwarks' can be an answer for 'fortifications' (bulwark is a kind of fortification). I am unsure of the 'defensive' bit.
'kabul was gutted right? rebuilt' is the wordplay.
'gutted' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'right?' becomes 'R' (common abbreviation).
'rebuilt' indicates an anagram.
'was' with its middle removed is 'ws'.
'kabul'+'ws'+'r'='kabulwsr'
'kabulwsr' anagrammed gives 'BULWARKS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for bulwarks that I've seen is " Walls built as defences".)