Mindful of hostilities out east (5)
I believe the answer is:
aware
'mindful of' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aware that I've seen before include "Having knowledge of, informed" , "Attentive" , "fly" , "Cognisant, mindful" , "Acquainted with or conscious of" .)