Ancient empire resembling modern Arab country (7)
I believe the answer is:
assyria
'ancient empire' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'resembling modern arab country' is the wordplay.
'resembling' becomes 'as' ('as' can mean like or resembling).
'modern arab country' becomes 'syria'.
'as'+'syria'='ASSYRIA'
(Other definitions for assyria that I've seen before include "Ancient empire in western Asia" , "Ancient Mesopotamian kingdom" , "old kingdom" , "Nineveh its capital" , "Ancient empire of Iraq" .)