Loess landslides are major hazards in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The loess in this region is frequently subjected to repeated wetting-drying (W-D) cycles due to climatic factors, which significantly increases the likelihood of landslides. Therefore, investigating the shear behavior and microstructural evolution of loess under climate-induced W-D cycles is crucial to understanding the mechanisms of loess landslides. In this study, Malan loess is analyzed using unsaturated triaxial tests, resistivity tests, scanning electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The test results show that shear strength decreases with increased W-D cycles, and the degradation effect is more pronounced under lower confining pressure. The variations in conductive pathways indicate that electrical resistivity can effectively reflect the structural damage of loess during W-D cycles, which is associated with increased direct point contacts and spaced pores. Aggregation of clay particles and growth of cracks during the W-D cycles can further destabilize the loess microstructure. As the confining pressure increases, crushed particles rearrange and convert spaced pores into intergranular pores. The number and peak intensity of dominant spaced pores decrease, resulting in a more stable structure. This study clarifies the mechanisms of loess landslides under W-D cycles and provides theoretical support for landslide prevention and control in the CLP. (c) 2026 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-nd/4.0/).