Crossword Genius

Country where bell sounds rise before long (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lebanon

'country' is the definition.
(Lebanon is an example)

'bell sounds rise before long' is the wordplay.
'sounds' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'rise' says the letters should be written backwards.
'before long' becomes 'anon' (synonyms).
'bell' is a homophone of 'bel'.
'bel' reversed gives 'leb'.
'leb'+'anon'='LEBANON'

'where' is the link.

(Other definitions for lebanon that I've seen before include "Beirut's country" , "Middle Eastern region" , "Ban Noel from the country" , "Neighbour of Israel" , "Middle Eastern country" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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