Arid sort of attack (4)
I believe the answer is:
raid
'attack' is the definition.
(raid is a kind of attack)
'arid sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates an anagram.
'arid' is an anagram of 'RAID'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for raid that I've seen before include "Finch and Bronson starred in . . . . On Entebbe" , "Stock Exchange activity" , "Sally" , "Invade" , "Smash-and-grab?" .)