Arid sort of attack (4)
I believe the answer is:
raid
'attack' is the definition.
(raiding is a kind of attacking)
'arid sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates anagramming the letters.
'arid' anagrammed gives '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?" .)