Abstract: The core mechanism of freeze-thaw-induced loess landslides lies in the structural and permeability alterations of soil during freeze-thaw processes. This study systematically investigates the effects of different moisture contents (7%, 14%, 21%, 28%) and freeze-thaw cycles (0-40 cycles) on the permeability characteristics of Ili loess through triaxial permeability tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Results demonstrate that under freeze-thaw cycles: Low moisture content samples (7%, 14%) exhibit a "decline-rise" trend in permeability coefficient, reaching minimum values at 5 cycles; High moisture content samples (21%, 28%) show a three-stage "increase-decrease-reincrease" fluctuation pattern, stabilizing after 20 cycles. The freeze-thaw process modifies soil structure through a three-phase destruction chain: pore formation during freezing-crack networking-formation of interconnected preferential seepage channels. Porosity and permeability coefficients change synchronously, displaying an overall "stable-unstable-stable" evolution. Low moisture groups (7%, 14%) reach minimum porosity values of 42.3% and 30.5% respectively at 5 cycles, while high moisture groups (21%, 28%) peak at 39.6% and 41.9% after 3 cycles, both stabilizing post 20 cycles. SEM observations reveal distinct particle boundaries and compact structure in unfrozen samples, developing surface irregularities and particle fragmentation after 3 cycles, with re-emerging clearer contours but looser structure after 20 cycles. The study demonstrates that moisture content regulates pore reorganization through ice crystal distribution, while cumulative structural damage from freeze-thaw cycles drives nonlinear permeability evolution. These findings provide theoretical support for seepage field modeling and early warning of freeze-thaw loess landslides.