What does the cryptic crossword clue "Crack henchmen controlled areas (9)" mean?

The definition is "controlled areas". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). DO (synonym="to crack/solve a problem") + MINIONS (synonym="henchmen/servile followers of someone important") = DOMINIONS The answer is DOMINIONS.

Crack henchmen controlled areas (9)

Guardian Cryptic #29163 | 16 Down | 2023-08-31 flower

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